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Recent IMF and World Bank forecasts show that India’s economy could take over from China as the world’s fastest growing economy in the next two years.

The two organisations’ tick of approval for the Modi government’s development agenda comes just over a year after Narendra Modi lead the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to a landslide win in the 2014 Indian elections, securing 282 seats and gaining majority control of the lower house – something that no other single party has done since 1984.

The election result was unthinkable a few years ago. Under the previous Congress party government, India had seven years of GDP growth of around 8% or more, and India was seen as the next emerging economic power after China.

But the growth faltered and a series of major corruption scandals destroyed the credibility of the Congress government.

By the time of the 2014 elections, Indians, who had become accustomed to economic growth and its flow-on benefits, seemed desperate for change and the expectations on Narendra Modi are enormous, with both businesses and the electorate hoping that he can replicate his successes as chief minister of the state of Gujarat.

But despite the economic growth, Modi faces a number of challenges to deliver on his promise of good times ahead for India. Inadequate infrastructure, massive skill shortages and high levels of illiteracy will all hinder efforts to generate the millions of jobs needed to cater for the influx of young people entering the workforce.

The Conversation spoke with Anthony D'Costa about the economic challenges facing the Modi government and India.

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Music: Free Music Archive/Vinod Prasanna, Free Music Archive/Sunny Jain’s Red Baraat Festival, Free Music Archive/Blue Dot Sessions: Castro (CC BY-NC)

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Australia’s growing population has put enormous pressure on the housing market within the major cities, which have expanded further and further out.

But new settlements on the urban fringe require governments to invest in costly new infrastructure, and states such as Victoria and New South Wales have started to build up, rather than build out. This effort to combat urban sprawl has lead to a rapid growth in the number of high density housing being built closer to existing infrastructure.

This presents unique challenges: noisy neighbours, smaller living areas, more shared spaces, and increased burdens on existing infrastructure.

Dallas Rogers spoke with Hazel Easthope about the benefits and challenges of high density housing, and the mix of design, build and social considerations needed to create sustainable urban living environments.

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Music: Free Music Archive/Podington Bear: Daydream (CC BY-NC)

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Dallas Rogers does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Superhero films are big business. Avengers: Age of Ultron recently passed US$1 billion in box office sales. The first Avengers film is currently third in all-time box office rankings.

The popularity and success of Batman, Ironman and the Avengers have contributed to a revival of the American superhero on the big screen.

And though the latest films may seem like modern superhero narratives, the themes that make them relevant today stretch back to the 1930s and 40s, and the environment that gave rise to the first superheroes: the great depression, an undercurrent of fascism in America, and the looming Second World War.

Dallas Rogers speaks with Jason Dittmer on the continued relevance of superheroes in both popular and political culture, and the influence of fascism and geopolitical forces on the superhero narrative.

Jason Dittmer is the author of Captain America and the Nationalist Superhero: Metaphors, Narratives, and Geopolitics.

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Music: Free Music Archive/Podington Bear: Fathomless (CC BY-NC)

See also:

After Avengers: Age of Ultron, we really don’t need another hero

Dallas Rogers does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

The Reserve Bank cut interest rates to 2% on Tuesday hoping to stimulate business investment and household spending. The RBA’s decision was welcomed by Treasurer Joe Hockey, but there are concerns the record-low rate will further inflate the already heated housing markets in Sydney and Melbourne.

The Economist magazine recently evaluated Australia’s housing market to be overvalued by more than 25% (along with Britain and Canada). Even accounting for our higher incomes, Australia’s house prices are now among the highest in the world.

While there is sympathy for the difficulties faced by would-be first-time homebuyers, a strong housing market is often associated with jobs and revenue for States and Territories (the economies of both New South Wales and Victoria have strengthened significantly partly due to the housing sector). Rising house prices are also good news for many Australians – more than 60% are owner-occupiers - and successive governments have implemented and maintained policies that promote a buoyant housing sector.

Policies such as negative gearing, the first home owners grant, and capital gains tax concessions have helped many middle and high income earners buy property, but how are these policies impacting low income earners?

Dallas Rogers speaks with Keith Jacobs about the politics of housing in Australia, and how to address the inequalities within the current system.

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Music: Free Music Archive/Blue Dot Sessions: Stingray (CC BY-NC)

Additional audio: A Home of their Own, National Sound and Film Archive

Dallas Rogers does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Australians are among the most charitable people in the world, donating around A$2.4 billion a year. But how can we ensure the money we donate is used as effectively as possible?

There are more than 60,000 registered charities in Australia, ranging from international NGOs to environmental organisations.

While most appeal to our emotions when fundraising, someone wanting to have the greatest positive impact could equally apply reason, mathematics and moral philosophy when deciding who, and what, they donate to.

Effective altruism is a social and philosophical movement that tries to provide a rational framework for deciding how we should spend our money and time (including which careers we should pursue) in order to do the most good.

Australian philosopher Peter Singer is a vocal champion of the movement, and has recently written a book on effective altruism called The Most Good You Can Do.

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Music: Free Music Archive/Blue Dot Sessions: Glacier Quartet (CC BY-NC)

Additional audio: The Centre for Effective Altruism

William Isdale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.