Noida (PTI): Noting that India is a major economy with the highest potential growth rate right now, Nobel laureate economist A Michael Spence said the country has successfully developed by far the best digital economy and finance architecture in the world.

Spence, who was awarded the Nobel prize in Economic Sciences in 2001, shared his views during an interaction with students and faculty at the Bennett University in Greater Noida on Monday.

"The major economy with the highest potential growth rate right now is India. India has successfully developed by far the best digital economy and finance architecture in the world. It is open, competitive and delivers services of an inclusive kind to a vast array of territory," the Nobel laureate said, according to a statement issued by the varsity.

Spence also pointed out that the world is experiencing a "kind of regime change in the global economy".

Tracing the evolution of the global economy after World War II, Spence said that the 70-year-old global system is "breaking down" due to pandemics, geopolitical tensions, climate shocks, etc.

Emphasising that the global system -- built on economic criteria like global supply chain centred around efficiency and comparative advantage considerations -- is undergoing a rapid transition, he pointed out that "in a shock-prone world, it doesn't make sense to have single sourcing".

With the centre of gravity shifting steadily towards the East, there is a fundamental change in the global economy whereby supply chains are getting diversified and global governance is becoming more complicated than ever before, he added.

Despite the challenging time, he said what gives optimism is the affirmative answer to the question: whether we have counter-measures to enhance human welfare?

He also outlined the enormous progress in science and technology which can contribute to enhancing human welfare, including generative AI, revolutions in biomedical life sciences and massive energy transitions.

He cited the example of competitive pricing of solar energy and quoted the cost of DNA sequencing having reduced from USD 10 million dollar earlier to USD 250 now. However, he added there is downside to this technological growth, and emphasised on its availability to both big and small businesses alike.

"We now have incredibly powerful scientific and technological tools that, if we use correctly, can be used to essentially deliver wellbeing and opportunity to a wide range of people," said Spence, who was recognized for his analysis of markets with asymmetric information.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Berhampur (Odisha) (PTI): Two girls drowned while bathing in a village pond in Odisha's Ganjam district on Tuesday, police said.

The deceased were identified as Pranjali Dora (11), a class 6 student, and Manini Dora (12), a student of class 7, both residents of Patanda village in Digapahandi police station area, a police officer said.

After returning home from school, they went to the village pond to take a bath like every other day. However, they slipped and fell into deep waters. Locals noticed them drowning and tried to rescue them but failed, he said.

Fire brigade personnel from Digapahandi retrieved the girls after a two-hour search and they were rushed to a nearby community health centre, where doctors declared them dead, Digapahandi police station officer-in-charge Kishor Kumar Samal said.

He said the bodies have been handed over to the respective families after conducting post-mortem examinations at MKCG Medical College and Hospital here.

He said unnatural death cases have been registered and an investigation launched.