POLITICS TRUMPS ECONOMICS

In India a globally impressive
talent pool co-exists with the highest incidence of poverty in theworld. The
engaged citizen is aware of this situation, wants to know how it has come to
be andwhat can be done to improve it. That the country’s full potential is
not being realized to make fora dynamic economy and acceptable living
conditions for her people points to something beyondeconomics being at play.
And this is the ever-present politics. In this volume, edited by Bimal Jalan
and Pulapre Balakrishnan, twelve professionals illuminatethe interface
between politics and economics in the country, illustrating in the process
how theirinteraction will determine the path that India will take. Among the
subjects discussed are theimplications of the emergence of coalition
governments as the norm, the rise of civic activism, thetension between
identity politics and development and the nature of the discourse on the
informalsector. The essays also offer possible solutions to end corruption in
administration and identify thestrategic factors in achieving inclusive
growth. With contributions from Meghnad Desai, Dipankar Gupta, Poonam Gupta,
Ashima Goyal, RaviKanbur, Sunil Mani, T.T. Ram Mohan, Deepak Mohanty, Samuel
Paul and M. Govinda Rao,Politics Trumps Economics is an incisive comment on
how politics can influence the outcome of themost well-intentioned of
economic policies.