The 180 Pulse
With thought-provoking articles covering varied domains, 180DC SRCC aims to create student leaders through a holistic learning experience.
Read to take a deep dive into looking at world issues from the eyes of a consultant.
BUSINESS AND FINANCE
The Investor’s Dilemma: Loud Lies vs. Quiet Truths
Sustainability has become a central metric of corporate value, creating a governance paradox: Why is environmental progress obscured by either exaggeration or deliberate non-disclosure? Trillions in capital pursue ESG criteria, yet the market is destabilized by two opposing yet detrimental forces: Greenwashing and Greenhushing.
Greenwashing is the conspicuous misrepresentation of claims, exemplified by scandals like the Volkswagen “Clean Diesel” fraud. Conversely, Greenhushing is the cautious suppression of verifiable achievements, driven by the fear of regulatory scrutiny and litigation. This asymmetry undermines investor confidence and stalls collective climate action.
Check out in Agam’s article as she dives deep into this subject
Pay Later, Pay More? The Hidden Costs and Risks of ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Services
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) has reshaped online shopping by making purchases feel lighter through small “interest-free” instalments. This reduces the immediate pain of paying and encourages impulse spending, especially among younger consumers influenced by peers and social media.
For many with irregular incomes, BNPL offers short-term flexibility, but often at a long-term price. Hidden fees, penalties for missed deadlines, and confusing terms can quietly turn convenience into debt. With inconsistent credit reporting and limited regulation, users may unknowingly harm their credit health.
BNPL isn’t inherently bad, but it demands caution. Before clicking “Pay Later”, pause and ask yourself: Do I truly need it and can I manage the instalments that follow? Read this article by Ridhima Dugar to discover the full story.
The AI Bubble: Why $2.8 Trillion in Spending Can’t Find a Profit
The AI boom raises a natural question: why has investment exploded so far ahead of real returns? Trillions are being poured into data centres and chips, yet revenue growth remains limited and most enterprise pilots fail to scale. This creates uncertainty about whether the moment reflects true technological progress or another speculative cycle similar to the late-1990s telecom overbuild.
Financial institutions now warn that valuations look overstretched and productivity gains remain modest. The conclusion that emerges is clear: only disciplined capital allocation, careful use-case selection, strong governance, and staged execution can convert AI’s potential into sustainable value.
Find out in Aviral Kapoor’s article how disciplined strategy, not speculation, will define AI’s real winners.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Is AI Ironically Killing Productivity?
The excitement surrounding AI adoption is natural due to its remarkable capabilities. It can summarise documents, analyse data, generate marketing content and much more in just a matter of seconds. Companies expected this to free their employees from mundane, repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on creativity and innovation.
However, it has resulted in a rather disappointing trend in workplaces, i.e. AI-led inefficiency. The enthusiasm can be clearly seen in the sky-high valuations and inflow of investments in the AI space. However, there is a paucity of encouraging outcomes.
The gap in the expectation and the reality of AI-led productivity is not because AI as a tool is completely ineffective. It is, in fact, due to ineffective use of technology in the workplace for a myriad of reasons.
Read Kashvi’s article to discover the entire story.
Is Choice an Illusion in the Age of Recommendation Algorithms?
What if the choices we think we’re making online aren’t really ours?
From Netflix’s “Top Picks for You” to YouTube’s autoplay and TikTok’s endless scroll, recommendation algorithms are quietly shaping what we watch, listen to, and even believe. On the surface, it feels like freedom. In reality, our digital paths are being curated behind the scenes with profit, not preference, as the compass.
Read this article by Aarushi Goyal as she unpacks how algorithms engineer our decisions, blurring the line between free will and programmed behaviour. It explores whether “choice” in the digital age is a genuine act of agency or an illusion created by invisible systems.
Is Smartphone Innovation Dead?
Smartphone innovation isn’t what it used to be. While foldables, AI tools, and high-megapixel cameras may seem exciting, most of today’s upgrades feel more like tweaks than true transformations.
With users holding on to their devices longer and annual launches becoming increasingly predictable, a question arises is real smartphone innovation fading? What defines meaningful innovation in today’s mobile era? Are we nearing the end of the smartphone’s dominance, or on the verge of something entirely new?
Explore these pressing questions in Aryan Maheshwari’s article as he examines the stagnation in smartphone evolution and the emerging promise of smart wearables and multimodal AI could this be the beginning of a new tech era?
ECONOMIC AND PUBLIC POLICY
Has Sustainable Financing Stopped Going Green Under Trump?
The debate around sustainable financing took a sharp turn during the Trump administration as environmental priorities clashed with a renewed focus on traditional industries.
Many investors questioned whether green finance had lost its momentum as federal policies shifted towards deregulation, fossil fuel expansion and reduced climate oversight. Yet sustainable financing did not disappear.
Instead, it adapted by relying more heavily on market forces, shareholder activism and global commitments outside the federal sphere. While the pace slowed in some sectors, the broader transition towards responsible investment continued to gain strength, driven largely by long term risk assessments and investor expectations.
Read this article by Feuli Badoni to discover the full story.
How Shifting Immigration Policies Are Redrawing America’s Economic Future?
For centuries, the “American Dream”, fueled by immigrant labor and innovation was the bedrock of U.S. economic growth.
Now, a seismic policy shift is underway. With calls to “Make America Great Again” (MAGA), policies like stricter border enforcement and a proposed $100,000 fee for the crucial H-1B skilled visa are fundamentally challenging this history.
But at what cost? While proponents argue these restrictions protect American jobs, the truth is more complex. Is the U.S. sacrificing the younger workforce it desperately needs to support a rapidly ageing population? With sectors like healthcare heavily relying on foreign talent, will these changes lead to crippling labour shortages and stunt innovation?
Find out in Kabir’s article and discover the entire story.
The Shadow Economy: Unmasking the Global Mechanics of Money Laundering
Money laundering is often seen as a distant, sophisticated crime, but it silently shapes global finance, fuels terrorism, and distorts economies. From shell companies and crypto wallets to false invoicing and deepfake identities, the methods have become smarter, faster, and harder to trace.
Despite strong laws and global frameworks, only a tiny fraction of illicit flows are ever detected. Regulatory gaps, weak data systems, and cross-border loopholes keep the shadow economy alive.
Money laundering isn’t just a financial crime; it’s a threat to governance, stability, and everyday economic fairness. Explore the full analysis in Madhav’s article.
Philosophy and Psychology
Asymptote of Enough
What if the real burnout isn’t just in our bodies but in our idea of success? From school report cards to job promotions, we are conditioned to chase more — more success, more visibility, more validation. But at what cost?
This article explores how the modern rat race driven by unexamined ambition and constant comparison is taking a toll on our well being, purpose, and peace.
Is it time to redefine what enough really means?
Read this insightful article by Jahnvi Bansal as she questions the existing systems and offers a path toward more meaningful metrics of success.
The Halo and Horn Effects: How One Trait Shapes Our Judgments
Our initial impressions often hold more power than we realise. A firm handshake, articulate speech, or a confident introduction can lead us to overestimate a person’s abilities. Conversely, a single misstep may unfairly overshadow their true potential. These cognitive shortcuts, known as the Halo and Horn effects, deeply influence our decisions in workplaces, classrooms, and even the marketplace.
Such biases can result in unfair hiring, skewed evaluations, and poor consumer choices. But with greater awareness and structured methods like blind assessments, rotational reviews, and self-reflection, we can reduce their impact and make more objective, evidence-based judgments.
In this piece, Chinmay Chirag explores how one trait can shape our entire perception of a person and shares clear, actionable ways to overcome these hidden biases in high-stakes environments.
The Paradox of Choice: Does More Freedom Make Us Less Happy?
The Paradox of Choice: Is Too Much Freedom Making Us Unhappy?
We live in a world overflowing with options: internships, career paths, products, even identities. While this abundance promises freedom, it often leads to decision fatigue, anxiety, and second-guessing.
Psychologist Barry Schwartz calls this the Paradox of Choice: when having too many options makes us less happy, not more.
But what if the answer lies in thinking like a consultant? By using structured tools, frameworks and constraints, we can cut through the noise, make better choices and feel more confident.
Check out Aditya Duggal’s article as he delves deep into the Paradox of Choice and explores how applying consulting principles to everyday life can help navigate complexity and bring clarity.