THE BIG IDEA
By Aria Thaker
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Starting this week, almost 900 million people will be eligible to vote in the world’s largest democratic contest ever—a record that’s set and broken with each consecutive Indian election. After five years of rule by an alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the key question at play here is whether Narendra Modi—who espouses nationalist virtues and favors a Hindu state—will be able to keep his job as prime minister for another five-year term.
Quartz India has been prepping to cover this mammoth election for months, and if the fact that 17% of the global population will be directly affected by its outcome isn’t enough to pull you in, we’ve uncovered a few more reasons why the world should be glued to this contest. The most important of which might be that Modi’s bid for re-election is the world’s first real opportunity—in the wake of the Brexit referendum and Donald Trump’s election—to see how a populist leader fares at the polls when they haven’t delivered on their campaign promises.
The election will continue for another five weeks. Stay tuned and keep working on your decoding skills.
COME HANG OUT WITH US
Join Quartz reporter and author of the new book, An Economist Walks into a Brothel, Allison Schrager, for a members-only breakfast conversation on May 14 in New York.
You’ll be joined by two of the unconventional experts on risk from the book—Manhattan-based paparazzo Santiago Baez and con artist Sam Antar—for the kind of conversation on economic and personal risk we bet you’ve never had before. Attending Quartz Members will walk away with a copy of Allison’s book and a better understanding of how to evaluate risky decisions, measure them, and maximize the chances of getting what we want out of both our professional and personal lives.
EDITORS’ PICK
At the end of their mission, the mice returned to Earth in good shape. They weighed as much as a ground-based comparison group and their coats were in “excellent condition,” NASA reported. – Nicolas Rivero, “Watch how much NASA’s space-station mice love microgravity”
SOMETHING WE LEARNED FROM OUR READERS
We are still talking about millennials, but the rise of Gen Z is a trend to watch. They will make up 20% of the workforce by 2020 and 98% have used tech as part of education. This will only accelerate adoption of more user friendly enterprise tools, and heighten the expectation of convenience, flexibility, and personalization in the workplace. – Allison B., “2019’s biggest job trends: What skills we need today, and what skills Gen Z will bring to the workplace”
OUR PICKS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Video producer Molly Rubin recommends a spiritual enclave in the middle of New York City, followed by a hearty serving of dumplings. “You don’t need to be a Buddhist to appreciate the beauty and wonder of Mahayana Temple—New York City’s largest, located in the heart of Chinatown. Walking inside is like stepping into another world: The sanctuary is hushed, with smells of incense and sounds of chanting, as worshippers light candles and leave offerings for deceased relatives. A stunning 16-ft tall golden Buddha statue sits on a lotus, haloed with blue neon light and surrounded by offerings of fresh oranges and flowers. The temple is privately owned, so no monks, but visitors can donate a dollar in exchange for a lucky fortune. While you’re in the area, make sure to stop at Fried Dumpling on Mosco Street—a tiny hole in the wall with the tastiest dumplings in Chinatown (5 for just $1.50).”
ONE MORE THING
There are 671 Americans running for president right now. Let Justin Rohrlich introduce you to some of the more…unique candidates.
Have a great week.
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