[MUSIC] Through this course there are many concepts you must have learned, but all of them are equally important. There are three things I would urge you to remember all the times... when in the field of public policy or even in life, in general. The first, the first is that we're all human beings, so we can and we will indeed will make mistakes, especially in the field of policymaking. So, cultivate the art of listening, listening to other voices, especially those that disagree with you. I know it is easier said than done, but it's important. For myself... it took me a long time to practice this on a regular basis. But when I look back at my own life, professional life, I know how much I've learned from those who disagree with me. I really thank all of them out there. The second point is to focus on the larger good of society. Public policy, as the term suggests, is meant for the public – lok kalyan – which is means welfare of all is the goal of public policy. So, every decision you make, you should keep this in mind. As I reflect on this thought, I realise that this focus on the good of society is not just for us as policy professionals, it is true of us as citizens and as human beings as well. We essentially live to make the lives of people around us better, isn't it? And finally, learn to be patient. I know it is easy for a good old professional like me to advocate patience. But even for all of you youngsters out here, remember that change in the public space can be never dramatic overnight. A joke can spread to a million people over the internet in a matter of hours. But any policy change that involves changing people's behaviour and attitudes, it takes a long time to manifest. So, if you are convinced you're doing the right things, wait for the results to unfold. As the old expression goes, my friends, "the mills of gods grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine." I wish you all success, happiness, and continued good health in your life. >> Thank you very much for having been part of this course. The world of public policy is interesting, it's fascinating, it's important. In this course we hope we have given you some of the fundamental toolkit, some of the approaches through which you will be on the journey of understanding this subject. I would like to leave you with three big ideas. My first big idea is that economic policy is actually deeply about politics, about political science, about liberal democracy, about the republic. The state is a violent creature. Think about it a bit like a nuclear reactor - there is some uranium that is ready to go off at the core. And then we build a whole cladding around it, so that it becomes a safe nuclear reactor and it does useful things for us. Like that, our job is to take the state violence and put it in a cladding of checks and balances of rules, of procedures, of ways in which we can channel that violence towards justice and towards freedom. That is the whole project of what public policy is about. And so, we should never turn it into a technical conception of economics. It's actually at heart about liberal democracy and about the working of the political system, about building the republic. My second idea is that the policymaker is not the ruler. The policymaker is the facilitator of a conversation that is taking place between the people. At its best, the people, the communities are figuring out what is correct for them. The policymaker facilitates that conversation and then brings the state to become a part of supporting those systems rather than imposing their will upon the people. So, we should be very cautious about the distinction between the things that the people want and the things that some ruler might like to impose on them. Our role in the world of public policy should be modest. And my third and last idea is that a great society, a great economy is about the people. It is a song made by millions. All the science, all the poetry, all the business ideas, all the great creativity is in the people. It's not in the government. The job of public policy is to create conditions of freedom where the people will find the energy, the freedom, the opportunities to take risks and pursue their own whim and build great things. The poetry, the science, the business ideas, these things don't come from the government. They come from the people. So let's always rescale our minds and remember that a great country is about the creativity and the innovation of the people. It is not directed by the government. Thank you. >> Thank you for being part of this course. As we come to the end of the course, it's worth reflecting on what you've learned from it. Please share your thoughts and reflections in the discussion forum and learn from each other. To initiate your reflection, we thought we'd pick up on some key learning points from our individual perspectives. Vijay and Ajay have provided some great summary points that you will do well to remember. Now let me add a few of my own. As the title of the course suggests, economic policymaking is both a science and an art. It involves both the analytical capacity of the brain and the compassion of the heart. It calls for both a data based analysis and empathy with citizens trying to bring these multiple dimensions together is important to both our thinking and practice in the policy sphere. This integration is particularly important because all policy decisions have to meet objective criteria of quality, evidence-based policy, and the need to deliver on constitutional commitments of equality, justice, and fraternity. Vijay talked of the importance of listening to diverse voices, especially those that disagree with you. I suggest you keep this in mind even in the formation of your teams. A diverse team of individuals who think differently from each other will enable you to generate multiple options to choose from, and examine problems from contrasting viewpoints. This can make your collective decisions richer and more impactful. Finally, remember that this course is just the beginning of a lifelong journey into the world of economic policy. The learning can never end. So, keep exploring, keep understanding, keep revisiting your ideas and keep expanding your choices. The joy is as much in the learning as it is in the outcome. Every opportunity enables you to frame your questions better, to evaluate better, to decide better, and to assess policy impacts more effectively, and finally to become a better policymaker. Happy learning. [MUSIC]
