India S New Economic Policy

Conventional interpretations of the New Economic Policy introduced in India in 1991 see this program of economic liberalization as transforming the Indian economy and leading to a substantial increase in the rate of India’s economic growth. But in a country like India, growth is not enough. Who benefits from the new growth regime, and can it significantly improve the conditions of livelihood for India’s 800 million people with incomes below $2.00 a day? This edited volume looks at international policy regimes and their national adoption under strategic conditions of economic crisis and coercion, and within longer-term structural changes in the power calculus of global capitalism. The contributors examine long-term growth tendencies, poverty and employment rates at the national level, regional level and local levels in India; the main growth centers; the areas and people left out; the advantages and deficiencies of the existing policy regime, and alternative economic policies for India. Bringing together the leading figures in the discussion on India’s economic policy, this volume is the authoritative critical study of India’s New Economic Policy.

Papers presented at the National Seminar on "New Economic Policy: Perspective and Issues" held at the A.N. Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Patna, October 23-24, 1992.

Openness has affected neither poverty nor inequality adversely. When surveyed, people in disproportionately large volumes from all groups say that their fortunes are improving. The essays in this volume show that trade oppenness has helped reduce poverty among most social groups.

India is the second most populous country in the world and also one of the poorest. From the late 1940s to 1980, India's per capita income grew at an average annual rate of only two percent. Expansionist economic reforms during the 1980s boosted economic growth but also unfortunately resulted in high inflation and a balance of payments crisis. As a consequence, in 1991 the government announced sweeping new changes in economic policies. Economic Policy Reforms and the Indian Economy evaluates the effects of those changes and identifies areas of the Indian economy still in urgent need of reform. After an overview of Indian economic policies and development since independence, papers focus on the country's fiscal situation, the environment for private economic activity, education, the reservation of certain activities for small-scale industry, and determinants of differentials in rates of growth across the different Indian states. Contributors include respected academic specialists on India and policy reform, high-level Indian administrators, and present and past policymakers.

Reforms and Economic Transformation in India is the second volume in the series Studies in Indian Economic Policies. In this book, nine original essays pursue three interrelated themes: Why the movement of workers out of agriculture, into industry and services, and from informal to formal employments has been slow, explaining the impact the reforms have had on profitability and competition among enterprises,and analyzing the impact on the socially disadvantaged in terms of wage and education outcomes and entrepreneurship.

A lucid and brilliantly-argued book on India's recent economic reforms Nearly fifty years after independence, India remains a very poor country. It ranks near the bottom in terms of per capita income, and is similarly placed in the Human Develoent Index which measures social well-being. Economic growth in India has been less than half that of China or even other countries in Asia. And governments, at the Centre as well as in the states, are close to insolvency. The reason for our spectacular underachievement lies in the continuation of policies which had a certain validity as a response to the colonial experience, but which have long outlived their usefulness. The global economic scene has changed dramatically since they were formulated, and we must respond to the new realities. Bimal Jalan, the well known economist and present Governor of the RBI, in this lucid and well-argued book, makes a case for governments doing what they alone can best do, and less of what they cannot do effectively.

Ten studies from a conference held in Calcutta in June and July 1993 critically appraise the Indian government's 1991 shift in economic development policy from large-scale government intervention in the crucial sectors to a primarily market- oriented approach. Among the topics are the role of planning in a liberalized economy, the Mahalanobis model, social welfare and deprivation, and the current macroeconomic stabilization program. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

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.