3 hours ago What is NAIRU? NAIRU, or the Non-Accelerating Inflation Rate of Unemployment, is an economic concept that represents the specific unemployment rate at which inflation remains stable, neither accelerating nor decelerating. It is a theoretical benchmark where the labor market is in equilibrium, meaning there is neither upward pressure on wages (which fuels inflation) nor downward pressure (which could lead to deflation). NAIRU is closely tied to the idea of the "natural rate of unemployment," but it specifically focuses on the point where inflation is steady. At NAIRU, which means that at a...
2 days ago WHAT IS GENDER GAP INDEX? The Gender Gap Index, developed by the World Economic Forum (WEF), is a framework that measures gender parity across countries, highlighting disparities between men and women in key areas of development. Introduced in 2006, it provides a standardized way to assess progress toward gender equality and identify areas needing policy intervention. The index ranges from 0 to 1, where 0 represents complete inequality (a total gender gap) and 1 indicates full parity (no gender gap). A score of 0.686, for example, means 68.6% of the gender gap has been closed. Components of the Gender...
2 days ago HOW MUCH IS THE DEBT? India’s household debt has become a growing concern, with recent data showing a significant rise in borrowing. By June 2024, household debt reached 42.9% of GDP, as reported by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its Financial Stability Report (December 2024), a sharp increase from 37.6% in March 2023 and well above the pre-pandemic average of 33% (2015-2019). The government’s push for financial inclusion has increased credit access, but without addressing income inequality or job creation, it risks creating a debt trap. Using India’s nominal...
2 days ago China’s dominance over the global rare earth minerals supply chain, which includes 17 elements critical for technologies like smartphones, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defense systems, is the result of decades of strategic policies, economic incentives, and geopolitical maneuvering. China has near absolute monopoly on these rare earths. EXAMPLES Neodymium & Praseodymium: Permanent magnets for EVs, wind turbines. Europium & Terbium: Fluorescent lights, LED displays. Dysprosium: Magnets that can withstand high temperatures. Lanthanum: Camera lenses, hybrid batteries. Yttrium: Superconductors,...
3 days ago WHAT HAPPENED? In India, silver prices on the MCX were ₹89,100 per kg on June 11, 2024, and the prices reached ₹1,03,000 per kg by early June 2025. June 2024 Price: ₹89,100 per kg June 2025 Price: ₹1,03,000 per kg Absolute Change: ₹1,03,000 - ₹89,100 = ₹13,900 per kg Percentage Change: (₹13,900 / ₹89,100) × 100 = 15.60% Internationally, silver prices increased by $7.34 per ounce, a 25.18% rise. In India, prices rose by ₹13,900 per kg, a 15.60% increase. REASONS FOR INCREASE Supply Deficit: The silver...
