Battles Half Won : The Political Economy of India's Growth and Economic Policy since Independence

Ahmed, Sadiq ; Varshney, Ashutosh

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: ABSOLUTE TERMS;    ACCOUNTING;    ADVERSE EFFECTS;    AGRICULTURAL SECTOR;    AGRICULTURE;   

RP-ID  :  57715

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Rapid growth since 1980 has transformedIndia from the world's 50th ranked economy in nominalU.S. dollars to the 10th largest in 2005. The growth of percapita income has helped reduce poverty. At the same time,evidence suggests that income inequality is rising and thatthe gap in average per capita income between the rich andpoor states is growing. This paper reviews India's longterm growth experience with a view to understanding thedeterminants of growth and the underlying political economy.The paper looks specifically at the political economy ofIndia's growth transformation from a low-growthenvironment (pre-1980s) to a rapid-growth environment (post1980s) and asks how sustainable is this transformation inview of concerns about regional disparity and incomeinequality. The paper concludes that the pledge thatIndia's post-independence leadership had undertaken toabolish mass poverty remains only partially redeemed. Halfthe battle still lies ahead. Many more would like the fruitsof the economic boom to come to them. The greatest challengefor India's policy makers today is to balance thegrowth momentum with inclusionary policies.