| ID | 058937 |
| Title Proper | Enterprise and development in India an interregional perspective |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Baru, Sanjaya |
| Publication | Oct 2004. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | India over the past century has been characterized by sharp inter-regional variation, with western, north-western and southern India recording higher rates of growth than eastern, central, north-central and north-eastern India. Explanations for this have focused on regional variations in the agrarian economy dating to the colonial period. After independence, planning and fiscal policy were deployed to rectify regional disparities, but have not fared well. During the 1990s, while some middle-income states have been able to improve their position, the backward regions have yet to move to a higher growth trajectory. This paper argues that public investment can, in fact, accelerate economic development in backward regions, but only when the pre-conditions for private enterprise development already exist. Regions that have not made the transition to agrarian capitalism are unlikely to urbanize and industrialize. Worse, a century of backwardness can engender inertia and despair. This remains an important challenge for the future of India’s economic reforms. |
| `In' analytical Note | India Review Vol. 3, No.4; Oct 2004: p 385-404 |
| Journal Source | India Review Vol: 3 No 4 |
| Key Words | Economic Development ; India-Economy ; International Relations-India ; Internal Politics-India |