Newsclick discusses with economist Surajit Mazumdar the Union Budget 2013-14 and other related aspects.

‘The challenge is not how the state can regulate the market, but how society can regulate both the state and the market.’

Dr. Taimur Rahman, the founder of Laal Band and the General Secretary of the Communist Mazdfoor Kissan Party of Pakistan, discusses with Newsclick his new book, "Class Structure of Pakistan". In this book, he analyzes the class structure from the time of the Mughal Empire, through the distortions of the colonial era to the class structure of contemporary Pakistan. He notes that the non-agricultural sector of the economy is dominated by petty commodity production and large scale production system, whether in the state or corporate owned sector occupies a relatively small part of the economy.

The left made strong advancements in the recent elections in France and Greece. These results came in the backdrop of a severe economic crisis which show no signs of dying out. Are these opportunities for revolutionary advancements for the left? Prof. Aijaz Ahmad and Prof. Prabhat Patnaik talk about these issues in a discussion chaired by Sudhanva Deshpande.

The left made strong advancements in the recent elections in France and Greece. These results came in the backdrop of a severe economic crisis which show no signs of dying out. Are these opportunities for revolutionary advancements for the left? Prof. Aijaz Ahmad and Prof. Prabhat Patnaik talk about these issues in a discussion chaired by Sudhanva Deshpande.

Prof. Jayati Ghosh, JNU discusses with Newsclick the impact of the elections in France and Greece on the fiscal and economic policies of Euro zone. She believes that though Greece is now nearing end-game, if Germany and the EU is willing to change its austerity regime, there is still a chance of Euro zone to continue. But it will require a fundamental change in its economic vision that is still tied to the neo-liberal framework

Professor Samir Amin, one of the leading Marxist thinkers in the world today, speaks about the implosion of contemporary capitalism. He articulates the need for the radical left, in the North as well as the South, to be bold in formulating its political alternative to the existing system. It is time for the left to articulate a new socialist agenda, not merely as a repetition of the 20 century socialism, but recreating it in light of the lessons learned from the past and the changes we are seeing in the world today.

Continuing with the iniquitous agenda of the last budget, the Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee has presented a budget which increases indirect taxes, which will be passed on to all sections of the population through price rise. This is a classic case of regressive taxation.

Newsclick presents its lecture series. The inaugural programme was on "20 Years after Fall of USSR". The panelists were Eminent Political Scientist Aijaz Ahmad, Eminent Economist Prabhat patnaik and CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat. This is Part-III of the three part series.