Economy #freebies#public-policy
CEA Nageswaran: Free Is 'Most Expensive Word in Public Policy', Threatens Patient Capital
Chief Economic Adviser Anantha Nageswaran said that free is the most expensive word in public policy, warning at the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Summit that infrastructure built on free or below-cost services cannot attract patient capital. He outlined the conditions for durable returns: quality infrastructure, contract certainty, policy certainty, and pricing that covers economic cost.
Aug 4, 2026 1 source