Game of Consultants

Time feels abstract until finance assigns it a price. Through a single metric, the Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC), markets decide which ideas are worth waiting for and which futures are written off before they begin.
WACC is more than a technical calculation; it is the rate at which patience is taxed. It shapes valuations, determines which infrastructure gets built, which startups survive funding winters, and which innovations are shelved as “too slow.” A marginal shift in this number can create or erase billions in value, quietly steering global capital flows.
From low-interest-rate booms to private equity’s leveraged bets, the cost of capital reveals how economies reward speed over endurance and growth over resilience.
Explore this deeper reflection on finance, time, and ambition in Angad’s article.

India’s festive season has evolved from a cultural celebration into one of the country’s most powerful economic events. Diwali sales today are driven not just by tradition, but by flash discounts, influencer marketing, and easy credit, turning celebration into consumption at scale.

In just four years, online festive sales have jumped from ₹72,000 crore to nearly ₹1.2 lakh crore. While the numbers look impressive, they raise an important question: is this surge a sign of sustainable economic growth, or a seasonal distortion powered by emotion, FOMO, and deferred payments?

As social media shapes buying behaviour and Buy Now, Pay Later normalises debt-led consumption, festive spending increasingly reflects psychological and financial fragility beneath its glittering surface.

Discover the full story in Vyom’s article.

India’s aviation sector is soaring in passenger numbers, aircraft orders, and demand, but profits remain stubbornly grounded. Despite growth in air travel, most Indian airlines continue to struggle financially, revealing a paradox at the industry’s heart.

At the core lie structural challenges: aviation turbine fuel accounting for nearly half of operating costs, a tax regime that keeps ATF outside GST, dollar-denominated lease and maintenance expenses, and some of Asia’s highest airport charges. Add to this a fiercely price-sensitive market, fare wars, and limited ancillary revenues, and growth alone no longer guarantees profitability.

IndiGo stands out as the rare exception, proving disciplined cost control, scale, and financing can still deliver profits.

Explore the full analysis in Ananya Khosla’s article.