A Case study: India's Chaotic Adoption of the New Tax System
In 2017, India underwent a massive and challenging shift to the Goods and Services Tax (GST), a new value-added tax system that replaced a complex web of indirect taxes. The rollout was chaotic, politically charged, and filled with technical hurdles—making it a compelling case study in large-scale financial reform. This course examines the GST transition through the lens of accounting, public policy, and economic adaptation.
You’ll explore the challenges accountants faced during this structural shift, the creative solutions they developed, and how political and cultural realities shaped the financial response. From economic compromises to the need for mid-course corrections, this course offers insight into how large economies with widespread poverty manage ambitious tax overhauls—and what the rest of the world can learn from India’s GST experiment.
Journalist based in New Delhi, India
For past 28 years I have worked as a journalist for various foreign based media houses including Der Spiegel and ZDF Television from Germany, The Independent and International News Services from U.K., Law magazines from Singapore and Hong Kong, and NRC Handelsblad and NOS Television from Netherlands. I primarily report on trade, finance and industry related subjects and have also authored a book titled ‘An Indian Business Law Primer - Key Issues for companies wanting to do business in India’. Specialties: Research, media production, writing and editing.
