New Book Analyzes India's Development Story: State, Economy, and Society

This book looks at how India's economy has grown and changed over many years.

In the past, growth was slow, but in the 1980s, it sped up a lot.

This wasn't just because the government spent more money, as some people think.

Instead, it was largely because India started to make more things inside the country to sell, like a way of import substitution, which helped businesses grow without facing much foreign competition.

The reforms after 1991 made growth even faster, leading to more exports and a big drop in poverty.

While this period saw great economic success, it also brought more inequality and corruption.

Interestingly, India's success in exports during this time happened without the same kind of government help or currency manipulation seen in East Asian countries.

The book also notes that while the economy grew, there wasn't a big shift of people into factory jobs like in East Asia.

Despite challenges, this era also saw the beginnings of a stronger government role in providing public services like education and health, and building a safety net for its people.