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HatTip to Dave Lull.

Rahul Gandhi is a better leader than Barack Obama, feels philosopher economist and risk engineer Nassim Nicholas Taleb. “He is aware of the problems and he is looking at the right problems. Obama is surrounded by people who don’t know there is a problem.”

In the capital last week to deliver a talk at the India Today Conclave, Dr. Taleb expands on what he thinks are the ‘right’ issues to look at – anything which strengthens what he calls ‘ robustness’ in an economy or society.

Robustness is simply an ability to survive hard times. It could be an economic crisis, a natural calamity or even climate change.

That is why he is impressed with Rahul Gandhi. In their interaction, he says, Gandhi talked about suicides by debtridden small farmers, and rural poverty. “He understands the India model. “And his advice to the man widely tipped to be a future Prime Minister of India? “Look at your small farmers, strengthen your artisans. Concentrate on robustness.” Debt is anathema to Dr. Taleb, an American Greek Orthodox Christian of Lebanese descent.

Debt – and the failure to recognise the problem of debt – is one of the reasons he is upset with Obama. “The United States is a bankrupt state,” he declares.