http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/G6id6XYcJUqlMLSWP9IQJP/The-truth-of-democracy.html
Welcome to my webpage. I'm associate professor of economics and philosophy at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Here, you'll find links to my academic and public writings, videos, and other items that I hope you'll find interesting. You can reach me at vdehejia[at]gmail[dot]com, on Twitter @vdehejia, or on Instagram @vd9122 .
Sunday, January 31, 2016
My latest Mint column, in print today, argues that the US was conceived by its founders as an oligarchic republic, not a democracy, and vestiges remain today -- most notably, in the arcane selection process for the US President. Those who say Trump or Sanders are "unfit to govern" might as well say they prefer oligarchy to democracy.
Saturday, January 30, 2016
In today's Mint on Sunday, I offer a detailed, research-based critique of the proposed widespread use of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in economics and public policy.
http://mintonsunday.livemint.com/news/the-experimental-turn-in-economics/2.4.3926705564.html
Monday, January 18, 2016
Delighted to be co-leading a major new research project, joint between NITI Aayog, Government of India, and the IDFC Institute, on improving the ease of doing business in India.
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/niti-aayog-idfc-institute-to-conduct-survey-on-ease-of-biz-116011700609_1.html
Sunday, January 17, 2016
In Mint, I argue that imposing restrictions on who is eligible to stand for office is corrosive of the democratic principle itself.
http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/hEQyvGVO7VHh96NYRlMUoK/Testing-direct-democracy.html
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Saturday, January 9, 2016
In a letter to the editor of the Economist, Rajeev Dehejia and I criticize an overly enthusiastic leader on using RCTs in public policy, and point to their methodological limitations -- in particular, the statistical issue of "external validity" or "generalizability".
http://www.economist.com/news/letters/21685429-letters-editor
Friday, January 8, 2016
Incisive long read by the estimable Siddharth Singh, the virtues of going gradual, on the Modi government's economic reforms. Yours truly is cited, arguing for gradualism in preference to "shock therapy" or "big bang" reforms.
http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/mocapitalism-2016