South Asian Economic Development

The notion that South Asian economies have tended to be less successful than those of East Asia is critically examined and the reasons why discussed. Countries covered include Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Key issues examined: * agriculture and rural development * labour market and human resource development * trade and industry policies * foreign investment and technological capabilities * foreign aid and economic development * financial development and economic performance * poverty, inequality and economic development * regional economic co-operation * 'green' development.

This new edition provides an up-to-date guide to the growing markets in South Asia. It offers an analysis of the changes and consequences of high sustainable growth of the region and provide an outlook as to where these economies are heading in the future. Focusing on the region's economic performance and achievements in the economic development front, the textbook will be of great interest to students and researchers in development economics, business economics, development studies and Asian studies.

South Asian leaders have made it a priority to tackle key regional issues such as poverty, environment degradation, trade and investment barriers and food insecurity, among others.

The Routledge Handbook of South Asian Economics addresses the recent economic transformation in South Asia. Leading experts in the field look at the major economic achievements and challenges for the region and examine why economic development across the South Asia region has diverged so significantly since the early 1990s. Providing a cutting-edge review of the economies of South Asia, the Handbook analyzes key growth areas as well as key structural weaknesses and policy challenges facing these economies. Furthermore, it anticipates trends and suggests corrective measures for the South Asian economic region. Sections focus on issues of human development, such as inequality, poverty and quality of schooling, and monetary and fiscal issues, particularly in light of the ongoing global financial crisis. Further sections discuss issues relating to employment and infrastructure, and on the experience of the region with international trade and financial flows, and environmental challenges. Written by renowned and respected experts on South Asian economics, this Handbook will be an invaluable reference work for students and academics as well as policy makers interested in South Asian Studies, Economics and Development Studies.

Jumpstarting South Asia focuses on the slowing pace of economic growth and makes the case for a two-pronged strategy to jumpstart South Asian economies. South Asian countries should complete the economic reform process that they had begun in the 1980s and the early 1990s and implement the more microeconomic reforms, namely, the sectoral, and governance and institutional reforms to enhance competition and improve the operation of markets. They should also implement the second round of ‘Look East’ policies or LEP2 to link themselves to production networks in East Asia, their fastest-growing market, and develop production networks in manufacturing and services within their region. This book argues that the proposed strategy will lead to a win-win situation for all countries in South Asia and East Asia, and also reinvigorate economic integration within South Asia. The book identifies the remaining policy agenda for each South Asian country.

This book analyses economic successes in South Asia and the reasons why they emerge by offering an in-depth analysis of a few case studies against the backdrop of overall policy context and economic performance of these countries. Offering a brief comparative review of South Asia in a global context, the book shows that the region remains an economically and socially lagging region. The author argues that within South Asia, most countries demonstrate examples of economic or social success. This book explores such successes that provide lessons for other South Asian countries and beyond. Case studies include the textile industry and microcredit in Bangladesh, information technology in India, forestry management in Nepal, surgical and sports goods in Pakistan, and human development in Sri Lanka. At the macro level, the book discusses India’s catch-up growth first given the country’s global importance and because of the prominence of the debate on its catch-up growth to development economics. A novel addition to the literature with its focus on successful initiatives with broad policy implications, this book will be of interest to researchers in the field of development economics, development studies and South Asian Studies, in particular South Asian policy.

With its higher economic growth in recent years South Asia is becoming an increasingly important region in the global economy. This volume provides a very useful introduction to the economics of the region and will be of considerable interest to both students and researchers. John Weiss, University of Bradford, UK The editors and contributors are to be congratulated for this comprehensive and original survey of the enormously important and diverse South Asian economies. Hal Hill, Australian National University The Handbook on the South Asian Economies edited by Wahiduddin Mahmud and Anis Chowdhry is a collection of essays on political economy of development of all seven South Asian countries. It is also one of only a few books available in the market covering all economies of South Asia. Hence, it fills a gap in the literature on South Asian Development. One very important aspect of the book is a clear recognition by the editors that South Asia s development will have to be studied and analysed within the context of its socio-political institutions and hence not by relying solely on its economic policy regimes. I recommend this book to scholars of all disciplines. Kartik Roy, University of Queensland, Australia This Handbook on the South Asian Economies (a companion to the Handbook on the Northeast and Southeast Asian Economies) is a comprehensive and unique collection of original studies on the economic and social development of countries in South Asia. The analytical narratives draw upon a wide range of extant literature in an easily accessible way, whilst highlighting the impact of socio-political factors on economic outcomes. The introductory chapter by the editors provides a comprehensive survey of the main features of South Asian economic development, especially in respect of the policy reforms since the late 1970s. The Handbook seeks to understand the varying degrees of achievements in economic transformation and social development in various parts of South Asia, and ponders whether these experiences indicate alternative pathways of socio-economic progress or provide a unique framework for a South Asian development model. The experiences of economic reforms across the South Asian countries, with their distinctive socio-economic settings and public cultures, may thus provide fresh perspectives on the emerging development paradigms. The Handbook is indeed based on the premise that development economics and South Asia have a lot to learn from each other. As with the Handbook on the Northeast and Southeast Asian Economies, this latest Handbook will be an invaluable reference work for many years to come for researchers, academics and students of Asian studies and economics. Policymakers interested in learning more about the background and future opportunities and challenges posed by these economies will also find much to engage them.

This book explores the historical roots of rapid economic growth in South Asia, with reference to politics, markets, resources, and the world economy. Roy posits that, after an initial slow period of growth between 1950 and the 1980s, the region has been growing rapidly and fast catching up with the world on average levels of living. Why did this turnaround happen? Does it matter? Is it sustainable? The author answers these questions by drawing connections, comparisons, and parallels between the five large countries in the region: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. It shows why, despite differences in political experience between these countries, similarities in resources and markets could produce similar trajectories. Home to a fifth of the world’s population, South Asia’s transformation has the power to change the world. Most accounts of the process focus on individual nations, but by breaking out of that mould, Roy takes on the region as a whole, and delivers a radical new interpretation of why the economy of South Asia is changing so fast.