India Ascendant: Fourth Largest Economy or Just a Rookie?

Wake me when India needs me

Another day another report about Earth's economic squabbles. This time it's India strutting its stuff. Apparently some top brass are claiming they've snagged the fourth largest economy title. 'We are the fourth largest economy as I speak,' said B.V.R. Subrahmanyam CEO of India's state run think tank Niti Aayog like Cortana telling me the odds before a firefight. But as always it's not that simple. It is like a banshee loud and fast but falls apart when someone sneezes.

The Ghost of Economies Past

Back in '14 India was ranked tenth. Now they're hot on Japan's heels claiming they'll overtake Germany soon. The IMF says India might just squeak past Japan in 2025. 'Might' being the operative word. It's like when I 'might' have destroyed the first Halo ring. Turns out there were a few more. This time its the economy humanity is the same all over the galaxy.

Growth Levers: More Like Hidden Supply Crates

What's fueling this growth? Some egghead named Malcolm Dorson says it's a 'long term structural dynamic,' whatever that means. Something about a big educated young population boosting tech and manufacturing. Also cheap oil and expensive gold help. Consumption is up especially in rural areas. Seems like those farmers are finally getting some R&R... and spending money after all that work.

Natural Course of Events: Or a Grunt Birthday Party?

So India's climbing the ladder but not everyone's impressed. Shumita Deveshwar points out the huge gap between India's living standards and Japan's. Per capita GDP is a fraction of what Japan has. 'There's so much work that really needs to be done,' she says. More infrastructure better education and more jobs. It is like when I get a new recruit the potential is there but you really have to put in the work one bad plasma grenade and its over. Another expert Dhiraj Nim calls it a 'natural course of events.' Says it doesn't mean much if people aren't prosperous. Basically they need to get their act together.

Reforms: The Real Boss Battle

The real challenge is reforms. Shumita Deveshwar says policies need to be rolled out faster. Lack of manpower and infrastructure have been holding things back. Labor reforms farm reforms – all delayed. 'We need to fix that so India remains competitive.' It is like the Ark so much potential so many resources such great technology but in the wrong hands. They need to stop dropping their weapons and start focusing on the mission.

Trade Winds and iPhone Swarms

On the trade front India and the U.S. might strike a deal soon. No GMO crops but other agricultural goodies could get the green light. And get this: India's iPhone shipments to the U.S. jumped while China's plummeted. Blame those tariffs I guess. Trump wants iPhones built in America but analysts say that's a tall order. Apple's still expanding in India though. Looks like they're hedging their bets. Next up the market report. Indian stocks are flat oil demand is rising and hospitals are innovating. All in all a busy week. Until next time this is Master Chief signing off. Remember Spartans never die. They're just missing in action or are in the economy and doing real work whatever that means...