Dilemmas of growth

The process of economic growth the world over has almost always been accompanied by tensions and even conflict. Developed nations coped more easily with such strains because of their access to the resources of the erstwhile colonies. On the other hand, some developing countries have resorted to authoritarian rule to overcome dissent and dissatisfaction. India has chosen an unusually difficult development path, with a democratic form of government and a very large and growing population.

As a result, India has faced an acute dilemma of growth vs. equity over the last five decades. Such dilemmas are likely to become sharper in the years ahead in the wake of the ongoing changes in economic policy.

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The twenty-two papers in this volume - written by one of India's eminent economists and perceptive social scientists and carefully edited for publication in this book - highlight the major problems India has faced in its growth and development over the last fifty years. Grouped into six sections, these papers deal with values in economic thought; agricultural development and policy; planning for rural development; agricultural price policy; rural credit; and agricultural labour and employment.

While each essay has a historical context, the thrust and approach retain their relevance as much now as when they were first written.

Authored by a sensitive observer of Indian society who has an intuitive understanding of India's complex reality and an egalitarian value orientation, this book will be valuable reading for anyone interested in the problems of economic and social development in India. In particular, it will be of immense value to students and scholars in the fields of economics (especially agricultural economics), policy studies, development studies and sociology.