SEPTEMBER 2014

Point
Out
BOOK REVIEW
POLITICS TRUMPS ECONOMICS:
THE INTERFACE OF
ECONOMICS AND POLITICS IN
CONTEMPORARY INDIA
A
n India a globally impressive talent pool co-exists with the
highest incidence of poverty in the world. The engaged citizen
is aware of this situation, wants to know how it has come to
be, and what can be done to improve it. That the country’s
full potential is not being realized to make for a dynamic economy and
acceptable living conditions for her people points to something beyond
economics being at play. And this is the ever-present politics.
In this volume, edited by Bimal Jalan and Pulapre Balakrishnan, twelve
professionals illuminate the interface between politics and economics in the
country, illustrating in the process how their interaction will determine the
path that India will take. Among the subjects discussed are the implications
of the emergence of coalition governments as the norm, the rise of civic
activism, the tension between identity politics and development, and
the nature of the discourse on the informal sector. The essays also offer
possible solutions to end corruption in administration, and identify the
strategic factors in achieving inclusive growth.
• By Bimal Jalan and Pulapre
Balakrishnan
• Publisher : Rupa Publication
• Price: Rs 500
With contributions from Meghnad Desai, Dipankar Gupta, Poonam Gupta,
Ashima Goyal, Ravi Kanbur, 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 the most
well-intentioned of economic policies.
Author Bio:
Dr Bimal Jalan was Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 1997 to
2003 and a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha during 2003–2009.
Earlier he was Finance Secretary and Chairman of Economic Advisory
Council to the Prime Minister. He epresented India on the Boards of IMF
and World Bank. His recent books include The Future of India: Politics,
Economics and Governance;India’s Politics: A View from the Backbench;
and Emerging India: Economics, Politics & Reforms.
Dr Pulapre Balakrishnan is Professor, Centre for Development Studies,
Thiruvananthapuram. He is the author of Pricing and Inflation in India and
Economic Growth in India: History and Prospect. He has served as Country
Economist for Ukraine at the World Bank and has been a Senior Fellow of
the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. He has been a recipient of the
Malcolm Adiseshiah Award for Distinguished Contribution to Development
Studies (2014).
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