From 2013 to 2018, I wrote a regular column for Mint, India’s second largest financial daily. For this, I used data and quantitative methods to explore topics of popular interest.
An archive of my writing can be found here.
Here are a few pieces that I, without knowing you at all, think you might find interesting.
Using Bayes’ Theorem to understand extreme opinions
The basic principle of Bayes’ Theorem is to take a set of ‘prior beliefs’ and see how they change in the face of given evidence
Why data science is simply the new astrology
Many data scientists accept the model that gives the best results on the data set at hand; no attempt is made to understand why the given inputs lead to the output
What the flooding of the Nile says about the Nifty
While Nifty is positively serially correlated over the very short term, if we look at slightly longer time periods, we find that the index is actually mean reverting
The highly networked Facebook platform is leaky
The connectedness of the Facebook network means that even a small cross-section of profile information is enough to profile millions of users
Poll forecasting: How to convert votes into seats
Analysis shows if a party can manage to get 38% of the votes in a four-cornered state such as Uttar Pradesh, it will go on to win a lot of seats
Was the boost in digital payments after demonetization temporary?
Debit card transactions have doubled thanks to note ban, while growth in credit card usage has sped up
The true value of Indian unicorns
Investments in start-ups come attached with downside protection clauses, which are like a put option written by existing investors in favour of new investors
How India coped with demonetisation
Number of debit card transactions spiked and ATM withdrawals plunged; credit card usage, online banking unexpectedly showed a negative trend
Bootleggers and baptists in conservationism
India needs to design its environmental policies carefully. These should address genuine concerns without killing economic growth
