This volume brings together frontline research on the prospects for rapid economic development in South Asia by leading academics and public policy experts. It reviews recent macroeconomic performance in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and examines three emergent challenges for the Indian economy: devising a policy response to climate change; attaining the millennium development goals; and restructuring state level finances.
'The volume makes for reading which is both entertaining and thought provoking. The book would be of interest to researchers and policy makers in the field of development economics and regional economic cooperation.' - Abinash Dash, South Asia Economic Journal
Overview of the Volume; R.Jha
PART I: RECENT MACROECONOMIC PERFORMANCE IN SOUTH ASIA
Recent Developments in the Bangladesh Economy; M.Alauddin
The Political Economy of Recent Economic Growth in India; R.Jha
Economic Reforms in Nepal: Performance and Prospects; P.J.Thapa & S.K.Shrestha
Recent Macroeconomic Developments and Implications for Poverty and Employment in Pakistan; T.Anwar
Liberalisation and Industrial Growth: Lessons from Sri Lanka; P-C.Athukorala & S.Jayasurya
PART II: EMERGING ECONOMIC CHALLENGES IN INDIA
Climate Change Policy for India; W.McKibbin
The Millennium Development Goals for India - How Attainable?; A.Deolalikar
Expenditure Implications of India's State-Level Fiscal Crisis; S.Howes, R.Murgai & M.Wes
PART III: TRADE, INDUSTRIAL & FINANCIAL SECTOR REFORM IN SOUTH ASIA
Financial Sector Reforms in India: A Stocktake; M.Sathye
Major Indian ICT Firms and Their Approaches Towards Achieving Quality; D.Dutta & A.Sekhar
Privatization and Public Enterprise Reform: A Suggestive Action Plan; S.Kaur
RTAs and South Asia: Options in the Wake of Cancun Fiasco; P.Mehta & P.Kumar
PART IV: FOREIGN PERCEPTION OF & FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN SOUTH ASIA
Governance Issues in India and Australian Business; D.Gupta & S.B.Dahiya
Recent Trends in FDI Flows and Prospects for India; R.Jha
Foreign Investment in Nepal; P-C.Athukorala & K.Sharma
PART V: POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN SOUTH ASIA
Poverty, Inequality and Economic Growth: India, 1957 to 1997; P.Warr
Growth, Inequality and Structural Adjustment: An Empirical Interpretation of the S-Curve for the Indian Economy; N.Sinha
Rural Poverty Reduction Strategy for South Asia; G.Thapa
RAGHBENDRA JHA is Executive Director of Australia South Asia Research Centre at the Australian National University. Previous appointments include Colombia University and Williams College (US) and Delhi School of Economics and IGIDR (India).