Nepal’s Economy Isn’t Failing — Our Politics Is | Prof. Achyut Wagle |Shadow Economy, Politics,

In this episode, we sit down with Prof. Dr Achyut Wagle, Vice-Chancellor of Kathmandu University, a leading economist, academic, and public intellectual in Nepal. With decades of experience in academia and public service — including roles as Registrar, Associate Dean, Head of the Management Science Department, and advisor to both the Prime Minister and the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank — Prof. Wagle brings deep insight into the country’s economic, governance, and development challenges.

He breaks down the real issues holding Nepal back—from corruption and weak leadership to gaps in education, unemployment, and governance—and shares his perspective on Nepal’s Gen Z movement and its demand for accountability, transparency, and reform. The conversation also explores the shadow economy, overlooked economic priorities, regional development, and entrepreneurship, offering a comprehensive view of what Nepal needs to progress.

0:00 – Intro: Nepal & the need for real change
1:36 – Incompetent leaders & why Gen-Z protests were inevitable
4:46 – Politics as service, not a career: 3 core failures
9:13 – Voting power & the truth about democracy
13:14 – Would ending “career politics” reduce corruption?
21:10 – Do mayors know their limits? No demand for good governance
23:24 – 3 biggest governance problems in Nepal (education isn’t weak)
33:16 – Global vs Nepali education & the 4Billion spend on education
46:49 – Are policies, government blocking Nepal’s development
56:05 – Is the dollar losing value? India peg & the cannabis economy
1:03:20 – Bishwanath Paudel
1:07:52 – How KU stays apolitical & why Nepal relies on remittance
1:14:15 – Budget vs reality: spending failures & lack of vision
1:21:07 – Weak implementation or flawed policies?
1:27:43 – Is voting for popularity a mistake?
1:30:12 – Foreign investment, self-production & state credibility
1:38:08 – Nepal’s shadow economy: hundi, UAE
1:46:17 – Basic guarantees, quality of life & Nepal’s housing bubble
1:53:39 – Can Nepal develop by putting politics aside?

Suggest a guest here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...

Sponsors
Sicily by T's :   / sicily.by.ts  
T's your Palate:   / ts.your.palate  

About The SJK podcast
From the struggles of content creators and the success stories of entrepreneurs to the muses of musicians, there is no topic that can’t be discussed in the SJK Podcast. Each successive episode is a step in a creative’s pursuit of becoming something through the art of conversation. That young conversationalist is the host, Sahat Kasa, an inquisitive person passionate about sports, the stars, and everything in between.

Built on the philosophy that discussion paves the way through problems, every episode aims to present perspectives that can help young minds better understand Nepal and, by extension, the world.

Keywords: Nepal economy, corruption in Nepal, Achyut Wagle, Gen Z revolution, economic reform, leadership crisis, education quality, foreign students, shadow economy, demonetization, media, and growth.

Join Our Community
Instagram:   / sahatkasa  
TikTok:   / sahatkasa  
Facebook:   / thesjkpodcast  
.
.
TEAM MEMBERS:
HOST: Sahat Kasa
PRODUCER: Karishma Bista
EDITOR: Saksham Thapa
THUMBNAIL: Ashim Chandaula