S O U T H A S I A B

The focus of the discussions at the event will likely be on the Chinese economy, Premier Li Qiang’s delivery of the annual work report, which will review the government’s accomplishments and set goals for 2024, and the appointment of key political officials. [...] The government wants to settle the issue as soon as possible as the farmers make up a significant chunk of the voters in the Indian agricultural belt of Punjab and Haryana. [...] The ruling parties in the region won a third of the votes and only a fifth of the eligible voters, on average, but have 45 percent of the seats in the parliament. [...] The second index of the democracy deficit shows the extent to which the majority of eligible voters support the party. [...] Regarding the labor market, in the short run, the unemployment rate rises upon the influx; however, in the long run, the increased labor supply reduces labor costs and decreases the cost of production, which is fruitful for the economy.