In this dialogue, we will be diving into the topic ‘Decriminalisation of business laws in the state of Kerala’. Kerala, with a Gross State Domestic Product of 7.8 lakh crore, has shown promising growth potential. However, it currently ranks 15th in the Ease of Doing Business ranking within the country, indicating room for improvement in terms of business friendliness. Establishing a favourable legal environment is crucial for enhancing the ease of doing business. The presence of numerous laws governing business activities prompts us to question whether these laws facilitate or hinder the growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. In this podcast, we will be exploring the impact of these laws and their potential to encourage or deter investment in Kerala.

Our podcast will build upon the ongoing CPPR study on the decriminalisation of business laws in Kerala. Join us as former IAS Officer T Nandakumar delves into the complexities of the business environment in Kerala and focuses on the decriminalisation of business laws.

Speaker: T Nandkumar IAS (retd)
Adviser to IFPRI and WRI (Washington)

Moderator: Anu Anna Jo
Senior Associate, Research, CPPR

Key Takeaways:

1. In many business laws, minor offences are criminalised. In the modern-day business environment, it is regressive and restrictive. 
2. Decriminalisation does not mean that it removes violations; it means that any violation that is civil in nature should be punished accordingly. 
3. Kerala needs to critically look into what it wants to do with its investments and then make the laws and procedures simple for investors.
4. Kerala’s growth will come from the large number of small and medium enterprises, which can probably be plugged into the global market.
5. Laws that have historical baggage can be substantially reduced by repealing them.