For the second time in 18 months, India has a shortage of cash. And like last time, economists say, it’s primarily the government’s fault. Empty ATMs and bank restrictions on withdrawals have been reported in eight states this week, and some bank managers said the cash crunch has been building for months. The government says the cash problem was caused by an unusual spurt in demand and will be eased within days. But if it persists, the shortage poses a political threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose administration has been hit in recent weeks from a series of stumbles. Most recently, he was criticized for his ... (full story)