Zero Down

When platforms vanish overnight, how does a generation react? How did Gen Z turn online trends into protest, and what hidden rules might be guiding their moves?In this episode of Zero Down, join Muskan and Rama as they unpack Nepal’s social media ban, the Nepo Kids trend that exposed political privilege, and the hidden game theory behind youth action. From viral outrage to real world mobilization, we explore how mistrust, opportunity, and strategic choices collide to shape the responses of Nepal’s digital generation navigating a world where voices are suddenly silenced.

In today’s episode, Nandini, Anika and Anusmita dive into the significance of the India–European Union Free Trade Agreement, a landmark pact linking two of the world’s largest economic powers, India and the European Union. We’ll examine what this agreement means for global supply chains, investment flows, and strategic alliances in an era marked by protectionism and geopolitical uncertainty. From economic opportunities to regulatory challenges, and from trade diversification to the reshaping of globalisation itself, this episode explores how one deal could influence the future trajectory of international trade.

Join Himanshi and Hardik for a conversation that looks beyond the scoreboard. This episode reimagines India’s Women’s World Cup victory as an economic turning point, unpacking women’s cricket through the lenses of sports economics, labour markets and investment theory. From match scarcity and income volatility to market failure and untapped consumer demand, the discussion reveals why women’s cricket is driven by powerful economic logic. Grounded in economic reasoning and attentive to questions of gender and equity, this episode offers a thoughtful lens on how markets, not merit, often determine value in sport and how that dynamic is beginning to shift.

Dive into the world of digital payments with this episode on UPI, as Yana and Sneha explore its transformative journey in India. From its humble beginnings to becoming more than a payment method, UPI is reshaping the way India transacts! Let's unpack Metcalfe’s law behind its rapid growth, the two-sided market dynamics, zero-MDR advantage, and innovations like UPI on feature phones, wearables, and future collaborations with AI. Today, UPI stands as a global benchmark, driving India’s economy toward modern financial development.

Ever wondered why you hesitate before texting first, overthink double texts, or feel stuck planning outings that never happen? Turns out, you’ve been using game theory all along.In this episode of the Zero Down Podcast by Arthashastra, Miranda House, Poorti and Mahak explore how economic concepts like the Prisoner’s Dilemma, Nash Equilibrium, Tit-for-Tat, free-riding, and signalling show up in everyday human interactions. From friendships to roommates, group projects, social media, and conflict resolution, we break down how strategic thinking shapes trust, cooperation, and decision-making.Light, fun, and deeply relatable, this episode connects economics to real life, because sometimes, understanding relationships is just about understanding the game.

Swipe into the chaos of modern romance with Devanshi and Tanvi as they unpack the Economics of Online Dating. From right-swipes to ghosting seasons, they explore how attention became a currency, why some profiles explode in demand while others get buried, and how apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge ended up running an oligopoly on our love lives. They dive into supply-demand curves on attraction, sunk cost fallacies in texting, and how freemium “premium love” became a business model. A fun, sharp look at why dating in 2025 feels more like a marketplace than ever.

Labubu isn’t just a collectable — it’s a billion dollar hype machine. In this episode we break down how Labubus made their way into the market, why blind boxes are so addictive and how Pop mart made a brilliant use of the hype.

Concerts aren’t just about the music anymore! they’re an entire economy of their own. In this episode, Nandinii and Vanshika explore the fascinating economics behind the rise of concert culture, especially in India. From the multiplier effect that fuels local businesses every time a major gig comes to town, to the booming resell culture and parallel ticket economy that fans either hate or can’t escape, we dive deep into the financial ripple effects of live music. We also talk about Coldplay’s much-awaited India show, and how Gen Z views concerts as part of the ‘experience economy’.

Join Bhadra and Kashish as they turn a shopping trip to Delhi’s iconic Sarojini Nagar into a crash course in game theory. From bargaining tricks and price wars to the Nash Equilibrium and the Prisoner’s Dilemma, this episode uncovers the hidden strategies behind every deal.Witty, sharp, and full of real-world insights, it’s the economic playbook you didn’t know you needed for your next Sarojini haul.

Have you freshly turned into a voter? Are you wondering whom to vote for? Before you decide, dive into this podcast and walk with Gargi and Anusmita around the world of politics looked at through the lens of Game Theory. Discover the various kinds of games played by political parties and unveil what goes on in the minds of every voter simultaneously that impacts on the election results.Yes, this is where Strategy meets Power and Psychology meets Diplomacy.

In this episode, Nandinii and Manya use game theory to unpack India and Pakistan's nuclear strategies. Through the classic Prisoner's Dilemma experiment, they explore how strategic decisions, mutual distrust, and historical tensions direct the prospect of peace and conflict in one of the most volatile nuclear flashpoints - and what it would take to break the cycle

Is China helping countries grow or trapping them in debt? In this episode of Zero Down, Priyadarshini and Manya explore the geopolitical motives and economic impacts behind unsustainable debt practices. From ports in Sri Lanka to railways in Africa, we look who's gaining, who's slipping, and what it means for global power dynamics.

In this episode of the Zero Down Podcast, join the heads, Tanya and Prapti for a discussion on international trade, reciprocal tariffs and the impact on the current economic and geopolitical scenario.

In this episode of Zero Down Podcast's non member series, ZDP Shots, Devika, Bhadra, and Diya spill the tea (from the Stanley Cup) about why we feel the urge to buy things that we do not necessarily need. From engineered scarcity, sunk cost fallacy, to herd mentality and other concepts, join them as they explore different behavioural economics theories manipulating consumer demand - and why it works so well. Are we really choosing what we buy, or are brands choosing for us?

Women have been locked out of the literary arena - not because they weren't writing, but because they weren't being published, read, or remembered, Joanna Russ said. Through Virginia Woolf, Betty Friedan, Emily Dickinson, the Bronte sisters and others, this episode delves into the works and lives of women who almost got lost in time. Join Gargi and Manya as they explore the economics behind this phenomenon and tribute the forgotten.

In this episode of the Zero Down Podcast, Tanya, Usheer, and Vanshika explore "The Great Indian Brain Drain." While the news of someone of Indian origin becoming the CEO of a major global company often fills us with pride, it also raises an important question: does this reflect a significant loss of talent for India? Tune in for a deep dive into the causes behind this phenomenon and examine various government initiatives aimed at converting brain drain into brain gain.

In this episode of Zero Down, Join Kashish and Prapti piecing together the what-why-hows of labour migration in India. Using the Harris-Todaro model as a framework, we break down how migrants weigh expected income against the risks of unemployment in cities like Delhi and Bangalore. Why do millions leave their hometowns? What role does the informal sector play? And how does migration reshape India’s urban economy? From slums and political exclusion to the impact of COVID-19, we examine both the numbers and the human stories behind India’s migration wave. Tune in for a deep dive into one of the country’s most defining economic phenomena.

Ever wondered why people go gaga over Birkins and Bentleys worth hundreds of thousands of dollars? In this episode of Zero Down Podcast, we unravel why, even amidst wars, recessions, and widespread struggles for basic survival, the glamour of luxury remains unshaken. Why do consumers, despite economic uncertainty, chase the $4M Mustang? Is it about status, aspiration, or something deeper in human psychology? Join Yashika and Pranjali as they decode the economics of luxury goods and consumer behaviour.

Were the allegations against Adani true? How does Hindenburg create profit? When did SEBI get involved? In this episode of Zero Down, join Gargi and Manya as they analyse the Adani-Hindenburg controversy, its implications and how a single report can lead to so many consequences when the stock market is in question.

In this episode, join Tanvi and Usheer to explore the economics behind Ratan Tata's journey. They discuss the global expansion of Tata Group, the challenges and controversies faced along the way, and how these moves reshaped Indian business worldwide.

In this episode, Vanshika and Prapti introduce the concept of "Sunk Cost Fallacy," exploring relatable examples, and discussing reasons behind it and ways to avoid falling into its trap.

This episode is our first group discussion, dissecting one of the most debated topics in the field of economics: Trickle-Down Theory. Trickle-down economics refers to policies that directly benefit the rich by means of tax cuts, deregulation and subsidies, with the belief that these benefits will boost growth and therefore welfare for the entire economy. Originally popularised in the US economy in the 1980s, these theories have backed policymaking throughout the world, including India. How are they implemented? How have they affected geopolitical ideologies? Have they boosted economic welfare? Has that welfare really (wait for it) trickled down? Join Tanya, Prapti, Vanshika, Suryanshi, Gargi, Yashika, Pranjali, Manya, Usheer and Suhaani in this episode to find out!

In this episode of Zero Down Podcast, Tarushi Narayan Ojha and Prisha Chhikara will be interviewing Satvik Chauhan, the Founder and CEO of The South Asian Policy Initiative (SAPI). SAPI is a non-profit organization dedicated to policy research and advocacy across South Asia, founded with the objective of bridging the gap between academic research and practical policymaking, and encouraging young minds to contribute to the socio-economic development of South Asia.

In this episode of Zero Down Podcast, Tanvi and Prisha explore the hidden costs of choice and give real life examples to show how understanding opportunity cost can help us make better decisions in a world of limited resources.

In this episode, join Priyadarshini and Suhaani as they dive deeper into the meaning of "The Tragedy of the Commons" and its role in our day to day life, exploring how a shared resource can quickly become a shared problem.

In this episode, Suryanshi Pathak explains five basic economic principles hidden in our daily lives and decision-making through an imaginary burger scenario.

In this episode of Zero Down, Vanshika and Tarushi discuss adverse selection, a type of market failure, and its implications. They explore real-life examples and give solutions on how to mitigate the problem.

In this episode of The Zero Down Podcast, Prisha Chhikara, Usheer Singh and Tanya Rajesh delve into the complex tapestry of the Israel-Palestine conflict, exploring its historical and economic dimensions. In this podcast, we unravel the intricate timeline, tracing back centuries of shared history and divergent paths. Join us as we examine the roots of this conflict, shedding light on the intertwined narratives of Israelis and Palestinians.

In this episode of the Zero Down Podcast, Prapti, Ayati and Tanvi discuss how the wave of global popularity that the Korean culture has garnered, known as the Korean Wave or Hallyu, has become an economic power. Join us as we transverse the history of how economics has been intricately intertwined with the rapidly growing popularity of Korean culture.

In this episode of ZDP Chaahat, Khushi and Sejal venture into the realm of tweets, threads and trendsetters. The suspense is real, the stakes are high, and our mics are primed to bring you an electrifying debate that'll leave you on the edge of your earbuds.

In this episode of ZDP Khushi, Prattyashee and Harsha explore the economic contributions of Mughal women. They study and discuss the role of influencial royal Mughal women in imprinting a Mughal presence through coinage, architecture, trade and market.

In this episode of ZDP Soumya, Sredha and Reeti explore the institution of Marriage from an economics lens. They talk about how behavioural economics can manipulate the rational thinking human mind when it comes to marriage. Using a  variety of economics concepts from game theory in doing dishes to moral hazard theory they try to analyse the institution of marriage which is considered to be so sacrosanct.

In this episode, Manmeet and Sejal dive into the journey of Blinkit since 2013 till now, when the company is owned by Zomato. Through different instances and theories, the episode unwraps the goodness of the e-commerce platform, Blinkit with its costs and impact overall.

Wars, scandals and politics have one thing in common. Twitter. In this episode of Zero Down, the hosts Dhwani and Khushi, dive into the Twitter buyout case exploring the reasons behind this takeover by Elon Musk. They discuss the repercussions of this buyout on Twitter, it’s market standing, it’s employees, and the Twitter users. Even as Musk describes himself as a ‘free-speech absolutist’, did he really free the bird?

Way back in the mid-70s, an exciting new trend crawled its way off the streets and into our living rooms. It was grimy, intense, raw, and loud. Unfiltered and unaffected by all of the usual restrictions of the music industry – it was punk – the start of something completely new.In fact, the punk mindset of disruption has even transformed the branding environment. Let us explore the history of punk,and punk culture? And many more!

In this episode, Gungun and Chaahat talk about how and what, did the economic concepts of Invisible Hand, An Ideal World, Foreign Competition and Public Goods come from.  The topic and excerpt is derived from the book “A Little History of Economics” by Niall Kishtainy. Full of colourful stories and compelling facts, this conversation tells you everything you need to know about economics, in the most intersection tangent. So, are you ready to dive into this intellectual treasure trove!

In this episode, Devanshi, Mannat and Kanupriya throw some light on the infamous East Asian Crisis 1997. No one could have ever predicted that the nations known for their stable and conservative budgetary policies will fall in the vicious trap of financial crisis. Yes, we are talking about the East Asian crisis 1997 that affected the world economy severely. So what are you waiting for? Put your earphones on and discover the reasons, consequences and the recovery of the cri

In this episode Apeksha, Muskan and Naina take a dig into the growth projections of India for the coming year. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, expressed that India will be the fastest growing economy in the world this year with at least 7% growth despite the challenges posed by the Ukraine crisis. But Reuters poll said “India's status as world's fastest-growing major economy to be short-lived” Confusing, right? Let’s find out whether these predictions are ac

In this episode of Zero Down Shots, Anshu and Kunjal walk us through the Economy of the United Kingdom. With the sudden change of its Prime minister & death of Queen Elizabeth II, the UK has many challenges in front of it. They discuss the economic situation of the UK both before and during the pandemic, with a special emphasis on the economical changes the nation is experiencing as an aftermath of the queen’s death.

In this episode, Rachel performs a brief case study on the welfare state of Finland – the world’s top performer in the World Happiness Index and HDI. She delves into the two pillars – the education and healthcare system which go hand in hand thus building their modern economy. She also discusses how the welfare state of a country’s government is an unfailing investment towards human capital thus boosting the present and future economy and making it sustainable through shocks. Finland is a perfect example of how slow and steady reforms lead to consistently high results.

In this episode of Zero Down Podcast, Nishu take us through the journey 'Decoding Geoeconomics'. Everyone is talking about Geoeconomics all the time these days. It has become a buzzword almost, isn't it? This discussion help you to get an insight into what geoeconomics really is, how it's impacting today's international system, what is India's vision and why should we care and so on. Tune in to the full episode to dive deep into the topic with the host.

In this episode, Reeti and Sejal talk about a recent decision by the RBI, allowing international trade settlements in rupee, as a measure against the ongoing inflationary trends in the economy. Bringing attention to it's benefits and challenges , they discuss the impact of the decision on the Indian economy. But, can this be regarded as the "internationalisation of the rupee"?

In this episode of Zero Down, the hosts Sredha, Dhwani and Prattyashee dive into the Social and Economic repercussions of the abrogation of Roe v Wade. They analyse the possible spillover and future ripple effects of this landmark decision using the ‘Turn-away Study’. From black markets for illegal abortions and plan B pill shortages to burden on the foster care system, they cover it all.

In this episode, Khushi, Manmeet and Soumya explored the concept of colonial mercantilism through various aspects. Beginning from the history, the whole episode creates moments of unraveling joints of the past. Discovering related school of thoughts, with their consequences. The episode concludes with practical application of mercantilism in today's world.

In this episode of Zero Down Podcast, Manmeet, Nishu and Sejal take us through The Economics of Mental Health.This discussion would help you to get an insight into the importance of taking care of one's mental health, how common its ignorance is, how mental illness affects the productivity of an individual, the correlation between physical health and mental health, and at last touches upon a few ways we can prevent an emergency situation with respect to one's finances.Tune in to the full episode to dive deep into the topic with the hosts. 

In this episode, Naina and Aditi demystify Carbon Emission Trading. Where you'll learn everything from how carbon trading came into effect to the cap and trade system. They further unfold the demand and supply dynamics of tradable emission allowances and about China's just-launched World's largest carbon trading market.Tune in to the full episode as we conclude by discussing the path that lies ahead for the carbon trading markets and how it can be made more efficient, and equitable!

In this episode of Zero Down shots, the host Vanshika hunts through the complex relationship shared by two pillars of development that is capitalism and democracy. In this episode she discusses about the origin of capitalism as an economic model  and the need for social Capitalism to be followed  insted of laissez  faire. She goes on to analyse the effects of increasing capitalism on democratic functioning of the nations, which has  lead to assymetric political participation and social inequality.She touches upon the topics like Keynesian economics, unleashed financial Capitalism and the need for both Democracy and Capitalism to coexist for the world to be progressive economically and ethically. Tune in to the full episode to dive deep into the topic with the host!

In this episode of Zero Down Shots, Tanvi and Soumya will delve into a topic of great contemporary importance: The Sharing Economy. Taking the familiar examples of AirBnb and Uber, the hosts start off by explaining the basic idea behind a Sharing Economy and subsequently exploring the factors fuelling its growth such as technological advancement. They go on to analyse its effects on labour market dynamics as well as the environment. They touch upon topics such as creative destruction, the reputation economy, consumerism, and much more! Finally, they discuss the sharing economy in the context of the covid-19 pandemic, while also highlighting its ugly side such as lack of government regulation and racial biases. Tune in as they conclude by discussing the path that lies ahead for the sharing economy and how it can be made more efficient, sustainable, and equitable!

In this episode of Zero Down , the hosts Aarushi and Jyoti delve deep into the concept of hindsight bias and discuss how this bias affects our decisions especially in finance. This episode deals with pointing out the specific characteristics of this bias. How this bias is dangerous for investors in the market ?What are the steps one can take to make oneself immune to this bias? Listen to the full episode to know more about this financial bias and get answers to your questions with the hosts.

In this episode of Zero Down the hosts, Mahika, Medha, and Tavishi, delve into a branch of economics that lies at the intersection of economics and philosophy- the Purpose Economy. The hosts share their views about the roots of purpose economy and the theory of sustainable development of the economy. They aid these discussions with real-life examples of companies that thrive on this theory of Purpose Economy and study how firms are adapting to this new conceptualization of business in the 21st century. Tune in as they wrap it up with interesting analyses of GenZ’s take on the functioning of modern day companies and firms, and what it would take for these companies to lure GenZ to work for them.