These communists sound like they have the right idea; maybe we should try it!
How Kerala got rich
121–130 of 329 posts
Re: How Kerala got rich
#122how -> through Gulf migration remittances fueling private investment (especially in services), enabled by a skilled population and a more market-friendly political environment
"Market-friendly political environment" did not bring the higher HDI that Kerala has now (and still prioritises), even before its economic development started. That was because of its left- (communist / marxist parties) and centre-left public policies. ( https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309363153_A_Compara... ). As Americans and Europeans today debate about how they can afford to have a family or buy a house, and the rise of right-wing politics due to this, there's something to be said about how bridging income / wealth inequality is important in a society.
Re: How Kerala got rich
#123Earlier quoted context omitted.
Actually, when literal communists run your government, you become China-rich, as OP put it. Contrast China's economic development with that of India's post 1950.
Compare the policies and results of Deng to Mao, the latter is more "literally communist." Their embracing of capitalist principles is what enabled their boom, same with Vietnam with their Đổi Mới policies.
Deng famously said "white cat, black cat, as long as it catches mice it's a good cat". His policy choices were not driven by 'embracing' of any principles but pure pragmatism.
Re: How Kerala got rich
#124Earlier quoted context omitted.
Compare the policies and results of Deng to Mao, the latter is more "literally communist." Their embracing of capitalist principles is what enabled their boom, same with Vietnam with their Đổi Mới policies.
Deng famously said "white cat, black cat, as long as it catches mice it's a good cat". His policy choices were not driven by 'embracing' of any principles but pure pragmatism.
Yes, capitalist principles are indeed pragmatic, hence why he chose them.
Re: How Kerala got rich
#125Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is what happens when literal communists run your government.
Honestly, reading this article, it's not making Kerala-style communism sound bad. What's more, they appear to have pivoted when they'd achieved their aims into making people richer. It's a classic "invest, then profit" story, only for an entire state.
That's how "communism" is in India. Two states (West Bengal and Kerala) are run by "Communist" parties. But these parties are quite different from what people typically mean by "Communists".
Re: How Kerala got rich
#126I was born in the US but my parents are from Kerala and I still have family there that I visit. One thing I found interesting was the pride in literacy and education. Kerala has a 96% literacy rate which is the highest in India [1]. It's one of my favorite places to visit. Unlike other parts of India such as Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderbad -- it's tropical and lush with much less pollution than what you might see in t…
[flagged]
Re: How Kerala got rich
#127I find the over use of "socialist" as a negative term to apply to any mutual investment, regardless of returns, so myopic. Families are "socialist". Investing in each other and their young. Wealthy families are even more "socialist". Dramatically so. Investing in offspring through childhood, higher education, and often long after. For good reason. Education and health have a compounding impact on people's potentials,…
Are families socialist, or clannish and nepotistic? I don't think you can run a country like a family, especially a multicultural transcontinental one.
I would say there is a high socialist elements - a parent doesn't have to sacrifice their economic comfort or even time just to give their kids a better education or better lifestyle. But many do so.
Re: How Kerala got rich
#128Earlier quoted context omitted.
Deng famously said "white cat, black cat, as long as it catches mice it's a good cat". His policy choices were not driven by 'embracing' of any principles but pure pragmatism.
Yes, capitalist principles are indeed pragmatic, hence why he chose them.
"Capitalism" is a very confusing word that should be avoided in a serious discussion one way or the other, society is a lot more complex than that. For instance "crony capitalism" is also seemingly capitalism but is directly opposed to the broad principles of a market economy that people think of as good.
Re: How Kerala got rich
#129y is this on HN first page? by wat measure is Kerala rich? No industries if exports bodies to ME, commie rule for decades atrophied all industry. It's a political hitjob against India central gov, HN should keep its standard above this shitshow
Last I checked, Kerala was still part of India. So why should the central government of India feel jealous about an article praising the indian state of Kerala?
Re: How Kerala got rich
#130I was born in the US but my parents are from Kerala and I still have family there that I visit. One thing I found interesting was the pride in literacy and education. Kerala has a 96% literacy rate which is the highest in India [1]. It's one of my favorite places to visit. Unlike other parts of India such as Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderbad -- it's tropical and lush with much less pollution than what you might see in t…
Like many in the diaspora, you may have a romantic view of your roots.
> much less pollution
Comparatively? Perhaps. One look at the Vembanad Lake and you'll know what I'm talking about: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/high-levels-of-fa... It stinks these days.
> Kerala has a 96% literacy rate
Lieracy surveys aren't as rigorous; likely 5% to 20% drop from reported numbers: https://www.dataforindia.com/measuring-literacy/
> still holds much of the charm
As someone who visited Kerala multiple times a year, things have gotten worse both climate wise & pollution wise. Though, the monsoon gods still bless Kerala, it isn't as green as it used to be. I've found (under similar climatic conditions) the Sri Lankan lowlands (West coast) to be more greener. Ditto for rainforests of NE India & SE Asia.