Why does opening Netflix with a thousand options often end with you watching nothing at all? In this episode, Susmita and Rajnandini unpack the paradox of choice, how too many options can leave us more exhausted, less satisfied, and stuck chasing the "perfect" pick instead of a good one. They bring in the jam experiment, opportunity cost, decision fatigue, and how social media multiplies the…
What if every decision you made had to make you better off without making anyone else worse off? In this episode, Samaira and Riddhima put Pareto efficiency to the test, not as an abstract market model, but as a real seven-day personal operating system. From Delhi's daily commute chaos to household dinner disputes and workplace tea-break trade-offs, they trace how a framework built for static…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…