India, Nov. 16 -- Schadenfreude is often a powerful tool in politics. It is even more powerful when societies are deeply unequal and the engine of inequality has had broad support from the ruling elite. The MAGA campaign of Donald Trump, the politician, talks about trade wars and demonises outsourcing of services and allowing skilled migrants into the US, was precisely that: Schadenfreude par excellence. But demonising or punishing others, and taking pleasure from their misfortune, is of little good when it comes to fixing things, especially in an economy as high-stakes and globalised as the US. Trump, the president, is realising more of this every passing day.

First, he had to walk back on his de facto killing of the H-1B visa programme...