March 2023 launch paper:

• Inside the V-Dem Rankings by Salvatore Babones

The problems with V-Dem do not derive from its statistical methodology, but from its idiosyncratic choice of indicators, inexplicable scaling decisions, and vulnerability to expert biases. In short, the problem isn't in the models; it's in the data. Or as the computer scientists say, "garbage in, garbage out." Click the link above to download the full report.

August 2023 paper on economic reform:

• Understanding Aadhaar by Vikram K. Malkani

The Aadhaar ('Foundation') number is India's national identification system and the world's largest national biometric ID card initiative, with nearly 1.377 billion unique ID numbers issued as of mid-2023. The introduction of Aadhaar has transformed India's Public Distribution System (PDS) into a much more efficient, transparent and reliable welfare system.

November 2023 paper on Calfornia's SB 403:

• • • The Weaponization of Caste in America by Salvatore Babones

A coalition of Muslim, Sikh, and Dalit civil society organizations is campaigning for laws to explicitly ban caste-based discrimination in the United States. These campaigns have been used to generate publicity that inappropriately links discrimination with Hindus and the Hindu faith, turning caste into a weapon in a South Asian diaspora culture war.