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  2. Cockroaches 1, Modi 0: India’s remarkable protests
Cockroaches 1, Modi 0: India’s remarkable protests

Cockroaches 1, Modi 0: India’s remarkable protests

Economist Podcasts · Jul 27, 2026

An Indian youth movement topples a minister, a study reveals why even AI fails at trading, and a street artist gamifies urban exploration.

Investment Success Hinges on Bet Sizing, Not Just Accurate Prediction

A study found that people given tomorrow's headlines still performed poorly in simulated trading. Their failure wasn't in predicting market direction, but in sizing bets appropriately. Professionals outperform not by having a better crystal ball, but by skillfully modulating investment size based on their level of confidence, even choosing not to bet at all on some days.

Cockroaches 1, Modi 0: India’s remarkable protests thumbnail

Cockroaches 1, Modi 0: India’s remarkable protests

Economist Podcasts·2 months ago

AI Fails at Trading for the Same Reason Humans Do: Poor Risk Calibration

In an experiment where participants traded with knowledge of future news, AI models also performed poorly. While slightly better than humans at predicting market direction, they were just as bad at sizing their bets. This suggests the nuanced skill of calibrating risk based on confidence remains a critical, and not yet automated, component of successful trading.

Cockroaches 1, Modi 0: India’s remarkable protests thumbnail

Cockroaches 1, Modi 0: India’s remarkable protests

Economist Podcasts·2 months ago

Mobile Games Can Drive Real-World Exploration, Subverting Screen Addiction Tropes

The 'Flash Invaders' app, which lets players score points for finding street art mosaics, demonstrates how mobile games can be designed to encourage users to look up from their phones. It gamifies real-world observation and exploration, forcing players to be more aware of their physical surroundings rather than getting lost in a digital world.

Cockroaches 1, Modi 0: India’s remarkable protests thumbnail

Cockroaches 1, Modi 0: India’s remarkable protests

Economist Podcasts·2 months ago

Indian Protesters Use Patriotic Symbols to Shield Their Movement from "Anti-National" Labels

Facing a government that habitually brands critics as "anti-national," Indian youth protesters strategically employed patriotic symbols, such as clutching copies of the constitution and dressing as Gandhi. This tactic reframes their dissent as a patriotic duty to defend the country's future, making it significantly harder for authorities to discredit or suppress the movement.

Cockroaches 1, Modi 0: India’s remarkable protests thumbnail

Cockroaches 1, Modi 0: India’s remarkable protests

Economist Podcasts·2 months ago

Gen Z Protesters in India Use Online Humor to Undermine Prime Minister Modi's Strongman Image

An Indian youth movement responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's attempts to placate them not with anger, but with mocking online tutorials on how to create better viral videos. This use of humor and digital savvy bypasses state-controlled media and effectively dismantles a leader's carefully managed, authoritarian image, proving ridicule can be a powerful form of dissent.

Cockroaches 1, Modi 0: India’s remarkable protests thumbnail

Cockroaches 1, Modi 0: India’s remarkable protests

Economist Podcasts·2 months ago

A Satirical Meme Can Morph Into a Serious Political Movement

What began as a single satirical tweet comparing India's jobless youth to cockroaches morphed into a massive protest movement with millions of followers. This trajectory shows that seemingly frivolous online content can serve as a potent rallying point for deep-seated public grievances, ultimately leading to significant political consequences like a cabinet minister's resignation.

Cockroaches 1, Modi 0: India’s remarkable protests thumbnail

Cockroaches 1, Modi 0: India’s remarkable protests

Economist Podcasts·2 months ago