Economic Policy In A Liberalising Economy

This book follows up on the author’s popular previous volume on Indian development planning and policy, published under the UNU WIDER series in development economics. It first introduces an evaluation of the newly mandated policy body of India, National Institution for Transforming India (also called the NITI Aayog), which replaced the erstwhile Planning Commission. As per the government site, NITI Aayog is the premier policy ‘Think Tank’ of the Government of India, providing both directional and policy inputs. While designing strategic and long term policies and programmes for the Government of India, NITI Aayog also provides relevant technical advice to the Centre and States.The book goes on to critically describe and analyse the think tank’s policies in sectors like population, demographics and poverty; agriculture and industry; and infrastructure. Lastly, the concluding chapter discusses appropriate future policies. The approach is to analyse the policy stance of the present Government in India as stated in recent official documents and to see if it has any relationship with past plans in terms of concepts or program details. In addition to the policy makers, the book is a must have resource for students of development economics, particularly of India, and provides a critical account of policies for emerging economies.

This is a meticulously researched and well written book on a subject of immense contemporary academic and policy interest. Prema-chandra Athukorala, Journal of Development Studies The book is a valuable contribution to the analysis of the links between trade liberalisation, poverty and inequality . . . The book is a coherent piece of work offering an abundance of well-researched and argued information, effectively establishing it as a notable contribution to the investigation and understanding of this very important field. Therefore this book is highly recommended as an important publication for everyone interested in this field as it is a powerful guide to the complex questions that emerge when dealing with the issues of trade liberalisation and poverty elimination at international level. Marios Koutsias, International Trade Law and Regulation Thirlwall and Pacheco-López s book makes its contribution by serving as a clearly written synthesis of a diversity of literatures on trade liberalization and its impacts on growth, inequality and wages, and poverty. . . . the book is an excellent one. It should be a required reading companion to any graduate-level trade course. Kevin P. Gallagher, Journal of Human Development and Capabilities This book breaks out of the standard distinction between free trade and protectionism , and shows how to think constructively about trade policy as an instrument of national economic strategy. It is highly recommended for those who wish to think beyond orthodoxy, and especially for those in developing countries who wish to influence negotiations with developed countries and western-based international organisations. Robert Wade, London School of Economics, UK This is a gem of a book. Based on deep understanding of diverse economic theories and empirical evidence, it offers us a succinct but highly informative overview of the controversies surrounding the impact of trade policy on growth, inequality, and macroeconomics. Ha-Joon Chang, University of Cambridge, UK, and author of Kicking Away the Ladder, and Bad Samaritans Free-trade fundamentalism is gradually making way for a more nuanced and historically well-informed understanding of the role that trade policy plays in economic development. Thirlwall and Pacheco-López provide an excellent review of the relevant literature as well as a sophisticated critique of the earlier, simplistic views. As they explain, it is the details the timing, sequencing, and context that determine whether liberalization will succeed. Dani Rodrik, Harvard University, US This book will infuriate the free trade ultras who believe that liberalisation is the answer to every problem and a good thing too. The real world, as Thirlwall and Pacheco-López show clearly and vividly, is different from the world of theoretical models so beloved by today s economic orthodoxy, and they take delight in tweaking the noses of the Washington consensus. History suggests they are right to argue that managed trade is better for developing countries than swallowing large doses of free-trade medicine. Larry Elliott, The Guardian Orthodox trade and growth theory, and the world s multilateral development institutions, extol the virtues of trade liberalisation and free trade for more rapid economic development of poor countries. However, the contemporary reality and history seem to tell a different story. The world economy has experienced an unprecedented period of trade liberalisation in the last thirty years, and yet international and global inequality is widening; domestic poverty (outside of China) is increasing; poor countries exports have grown more slowly than their imports leading to balance of payments crises, and the so-called globalising economies of the world (excluding China and India) have fared no better, and in some cases worse, than those countries that have not liberalised so extensively. This book argues that orthodox theory is based on many unreal assumptions,

This book examines the dynamics shaping the economic process of economic liberalisation in Indonesia since the mid-1980's. Much writing on the process of economic liberalisation in developing countries views economic liberalisation as the victory of economic rationality over political and social interests. In contrast, this book argues that economic liberalisation should not be understood in these terms, but rather in the way that political social interests shape processes of economic reform in both a positive and negative sense. Specifically, Rosser argues that economic liberalisation needs to be understood in terms of the extent to which economic crises shift the balance of power and influence within society away from coalitions opposed to reform and towards those in favour of reform. In the Indonesian context, the main coalitions that need to be examined in this respect are the politico-bureaucrats and the conglomerates who have generally opposed reform and mobile capitalists who have generally supported reform. Based on extensive original research, and providing much new material, the book considers the politics of economic policy-making in Indonesia in a range of sectors including the capital market, intellectual property law, the banking industry, and the trade and investment sectors. Analysing why the nature of economic policy in Indonesia has varied over time, this study argues that there is nothing inevitable about a transition to a fully-fledged liberal market order in Indonesia, and outlines possible future scenarios for the country's political economy.

The Crisis First In Latin America And Recently In The Economies Of East And South East Asia Has Generated A Lively Discussion On The Benefits And Pitfalls Of The Process Of Liberalisation And Globalisation. It Has Also Led To Questioning Of The More Or Less Uniform Conditionalities And Structural Reforms Prescribed By The I.M.F. And The World Bank For Providing Financial Assistance. The Present Volume Discusses These And Many Other Issues Relating To The Process Of Liberalisation And Globalisation. It Has Paid Special Attention To The Discussion Of The Respective Roles Of The Market And The State In Any Programme Of Rapid Development Without Creating Social Tensions.The Volume Includes Papers Written By Twenty-Two Economists Spread Over The Entire Country.The Response To The First Two Volumes Of The Book Was So Encouraging That It Has Led To The Publication Of The Present Third Volume.

The Decade Of The Eighties And The Early Nineties Of The Last Century Have Witnessed Changes In The World Economy And In International Economic And Financial Relationship. Several Governments In The Developing Countries Have Recently Embarked On A Liberalization Of Their Foreign Trade And Financial Markets; Many Have Also Decontrolled Domestic Prices And Investment Decisions. The Economies Of Eastern Europe And The Commonwealth Of Independent States (Cis) Have Also Begun To Establish New Political Structures And To Liberalise Their Economies. Liberalisation Policy Is Contemplated As A Measure Of Primary Importance And Is Expected To Improve The Allocation Of An Economy S Resources, Lead To A Greater Efficiency, Expand The Economy S Output, And Accelerate Its Growth. Such A Transition From A Less To A More Liberal Economy Raised Issues Of Great Interest To Policy Makers And Economists Alike.Reform Of Economic Policies In Developing Countries Is One Of The Most Frequently, And Least Understood Efforts Of The Last Decade. The Book Systematically Deals And Analyses The Dynamics Of Liberalisation Process And Compares The Countries Response In Considerable Detail. Struck By The Differences In Their Subsequent Economic Performance, A Closer Analysis Reveals That Their Experience Contradicts The Conventional View That The Ability To Absorb Shocks Depends On The Size Of The Shock, A Country S Experience With Inflation, Its Degree Of Outward Economic Orientation, And Its Various Political Attributes. Genuine Reforms Are Necessary If Countries Are To Achieve Sustained Growth In Real Incomes And Increase In Living Standards.Current International Developments Confirm That The Book Is Dealing With A Question Of Some Urgency: What Can A Developing Country Do To Ensure That It Will Adjust Smoothly And Swiftly After A Macro-Economic Shock? To Find Out What Factors Influence Adjustability, The Study Explores The Recent Stabilization Experience Of Some Developing Countries Around The World, Looking For Any Signs Of A Relationship Between Stabilization Policy And Economic Growth. It Examines The Various Components Of Policy Which Must Be Reformed Government Spending And Revenue, Trade And Exchange Rates, Controls On Private Sector Activity, Labour Market Regulations Etc. Finally, There Is An Analysis Of Why Reforms, Once Implemented, Succeed Or Fail, Accompanied By A Description Of Several Reform Efforts And Their Outcomes.

In India, The Move Towards Globalisation And Free Trade Coincided With The Process Of Structural Reforms And Economic Liberalisation That Began In July 1991. Since Then The Country Has Seen A Significant Integration Of Markets In Commodity, Services, Finance And Technology With Other Countries. Right At The Outset Of Globalisation, Some Persons In India Like Those In Other Developing Countries Were Against This New Trend, Perceiving It As Elite-Driven And Incapable Of Bringing Qualitative Change In Peoples Lives. Fear Of Lagging Behind In The Race With The Advanced Countries, Which Would Ultimately Capture A Lion S Share In The Global Market, Had Further Led Some People To Oppose Globalisation.But The Present Scenario Is Altogether Different. India S Apprehensions About Globalisation Have Been Removed To Some Extent. Economic Liberalisation Has Paved Way For Rapid Technological Progress For India While Globalisation Has Given Its Young Talent Vast Employment Opportunities In America And Europe. Today, India Has Become A Big Market For Multinational Giants. There Is Hardly A Big-Name Company That Is Not Outsourcing To India. India Has Developed Several Hubs Of Information Technology-Enabled Services, Business Process Outsourcing, Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals And Telecommunication. On The Contrary, The Advanced Countries Like The United States Are Now Fearing Globalisation Because They Are Losing Jobs In The International Corporate World To Indian Technical Experts. Globalisation And Liberalisation Have Brought New Opportunities In Our Country In Trade, Business, Services And Employment. The Atmosphere Is Vibrant. The Younger Generation Is Educated, Talented And Ambitious. The Opening Of International Markets Has Led To Earnest Endeavours To Improve Product Quality To Secure Marketing. Internationalisation And Privatisation Of Education Has Led To Updating Of Curriculum And Bring Technical Manpower That Would Implement The Latest Technology In Manufacturing And Servicing. The Globalisation Should Be Made An Instrument Of Rapid Economic Development In A Way That Its Benefits Reach All Regions Of The Country And All Sections Of Society.The Volume Has Wide Coverage Including In Its Spectrum The Structural Changes In The Indian Economy. Contributors To This Volume Have Not Only Recognised The Reality Of Globalisation As A Process Of Change But Have Also Comprehensively Dealt With The Major Issues And Concerns For India In The Context Of Globalisation. The Papers Closely Examine Important Implications And Impact Of Liberalisation And Globalisation Measures Taken By The Government In Recent Years.It Is Hoped That The Book Would Be Found Useful By The Researchers And Students Of Economics, Businessmen, Government Executives, Parliamentarians And Legislators, Concerned With The Formulation And Execution Of Economic Policies, And The General Readers Interested In Knowing The Changes That Are Taking Place In Our Economy.

A decade after the implementation of the initial wave of economic reforms in India, the process of transforming the country into a fully developed market economy continues. A hallmark of the globalised economy is its ability to sustain competitive efficiency which, in turn, can lead to enhanced growth. This important new book gauges how far India has been successful in achieving this goal by implementing the correct economic reform measures. There is a severe lack of solid analytical evidence or rigorous scientific studies on the success of India's economic reforms. The expert authors attempt to redress this imbalance with a thorough analysis of key aspects of the state of the Indian economy since 1991. Keeping poverty reduction as the major objective, they comprehensively discuss and identify further reform measures which are vital in the monetary, fiscal and agriculture sectors in order to maintain and improve the momentum of growth. When compared with East Asian countries including China, India's lacklustre growth performance indicates that the task of reform is far from over. The authors argue that India needs to pursue its reform process much more vigorously at both the central and state levels in order to achieve its full growth potential. Providing a comprehensive assessment of the impact of economic reforms in India, this book will appeal to policymakers, researchers and students with an interest in developing economies. Political scientists as well as economists in the fields of liberalisation and international development will also find this an engaging and enlightening volume.

This book is the thirteenth volume in the International Papers in Political Economy (IPPE) series which explores the latest developments in political economy. A collection of eight papers, the book concentrates on the deregulation of domestic financial markets and discusses financial liberalisation in terms of its past performance, current progress and future developments. The chapters have been written by expert contributors in the field and focus on topics such as past records of financial liberalisation, future policies of regulation, and current account imbalances. Other papers examine capital account regulations in developing and emerging countries, and capital controls in the Eurozone after the 2007 financial crisis. This collection of papers invites readers to consider the impact of financial liberalisation both during and after the global economic crisis. Scholars and students with an interest in political economy, financialisation, and economic performance will find this collection stimulating and informative.