A SAMEEKSHA TRUST PUBLICATION www.epw.in OCTOBER 9, 2021 Vol LVI No 41 `120 EDITORIAL  No Ordinary Road Rage COMMENT  Quad and Quasi-alignment with the United States FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK  The Logic of Violence COMMENTARY  Burgeoning Edible Oil Imports and Price Shock(s): A Time for Course Correction  Fifteenth Finance Commission Recommendations: An Appraisal  China’s New Rules for Algorithms  Changing Profile of Punjab Agriculture BOOK REVIEWS  India and the Pandemic: The First Year, Essays from The India Forum  The Economics of Small Things PERSPECTIVES  Is Contraceptive Prevalence Declining in India? An Appraisal Based on NFHS-4 SPECIAL ARTICLES  Analysing the Core Indicators of Decent Work for the Indian Fisheries Sector  An Evidence-based Inquiry into the Endosulfan Tragedy in Kasaragod, Kerala  Export-induced Loss in Employment and Earnings during the First Year of the COVID-19 CURRENT STATISTICS POSTSCRIPT Pandemic and Employment Loss India’s so-called “comparative advantage” has not been immune to the COVID-19 shock as the loss in exports has led to major job losses and loss of earnings of the employees in the exporting industries. page 54 Algorithm Regulations in China The rules regulating the algorithm recommendation service providers indicate that the Chinese government seeks to end the era of unrestrained operation of technology companies to prevent the subordination of social dynamics to private technological dynamics. page 18 Fisheries Sector and Decent Work As the labourers belonging to the richer states rank lower in terms of decent work, the need for state intervention and strengthening unions is underscored. page 38 Endosulfan and Health Problems While the decision to ban endosulfan in India is welcome according to the precautionary principle, attributing adverse health outcomes without strong supporting evidence can be counterproductive. page 45 Contraceptive Prevalence in India The decline in modern contraceptive methods observed in the NFHS-4 is explained, and certain errors in the survey data are pointed out. page 32