The barometer of change

VITAL Signs responds to the need for information on the trends that are reshaping our world. It surveys 42 global indicators, such as the decline in per capita availability of food and water, economic recession over the past two years, increasing water scarcity and the population increase to outline the challenges facing policy makers.

Time for India to take stock

Capitalism, heal thyself

THIS IS not a time for capitalism to Icelebrate. The heady days of 1989 have given way to disenchantment with free markets in the Anglo-American world. The high tide of capitalism has touched the shores of the Nordic countries, bastions of social democracy, while the politi-cally correct stalk North America. Francis Fukuyama's celebrated essay, End of History, often articulates this as a triumphant moment in the ebb and flow of capitalism and no more.

Germans in a sulk

THE EUROPEAN Community has refused to fully compensate German farmers for rises in the D-Mark. Germany wants a restoration of the "switchover" system whereby each realignment of EC currencies pushes up farm prices in all member countries to follow the movement of the strongest currencies -- invariably the D-mark and the Dutch guilder.

A question of leadership

IN THE wake of economic liberalisation, the need to streamline the country's research and development (R&D) institutions acquires a sense of urgency. However, ongoing protests by scientists at two leading institutions over who should head these bodies highlight the difficulties of implementing such measures.

Challenging the mighty

THOUGH Moeen Qureshi is only interim prime minister of Pakistan, he has dared to challenge the wealthy and influential landowners of the country by imposing a wealth tax on agricultural income. This is something that former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto did not dare to do, fearing a political backlash.

Whose home is it, anyway?

IN A CORNER of Gujarat lies the Gir national park, perhaps the last home in the wild for the Asiatic lion. The range of the park has shrunk progressively from vast stretches of Asia to its present, forest department-protected 1,200 sq km.

Aid cuts will defeat objectives of Agenda 21

What do you think of Agenda 21, especially as there are so many who would prefer to find fault with the document? It's a broadbased question. Agenda 21 should be taken for what it is -- a broad inter-governmental agreement on a number of principles and objectives that is long on statements of generality and statements of broad purpose, but short on statements of detailed objectives and ways of getting there. For all its defects, however, Agenda 21 is a great step. Interviewee:  Keith Bezanson

Exploring India's rural market potential

CONSUMPTION is a constantly evolving process influenced by a multiplicity of factors, of which the major ones are disposable income, level of awareness and standard of living. Different societies go through specific consumption patterns at different points of time.

Indian environment staggers under twin burdens

IS THE Indian economy becoming more and more environment-intensive? The greater the use made of energy and materials by an economy to produce goods and services worth one unit of its GNP, the greater its impact will be on the environment. Available data shows economic development in India relies upon increasing consumption of energy and materials.