Course Description

Using appropriate analytical frameworks, this course reviews major trends in economic indicators and policy debates in India in the post-Independence period, with particular emphasis on paradigm shifts and turning points.

Syllabus

  1. Economic Development since Independence
  1. Major features of the economy at independence; growth and development under different policy regimes; regional disparities in growth rates
  2. Sector-wise growth profile and changes of its contribution in GDP, structural change in employment.
  3. Five Years Plans: Objectives, sources of plan financing, an assessment of performance of different plans
  4. Trend of savings and capital formation; measures of mobilization of domestic savings; relation between savings rate, growth rate and ICOR.
  1. Population and Human Development
  1. Demographic transition theory and dynamics of population in India; age, sex composition and development issues.
  2. Education – literacy rate, enrollment ratio- gender discrimination in enrolment – trend in public expenditure for education; right to education and education policies
  3. Health as an indicator of human development, life expectancy, child health, infant mortality; nature, causes and consequences of malnutrition; Trend in public expenditure for health and hygiene; mid-day meal programme and other policies of child and family welfare.
  4. Human development index and progress of human development; HDI for several states over time.
  5. Population policy; demographic dividend
  1. Growth and Distribution
  1. Different concepts of poverty and its measures; different estimates of poverty; recent controversy of poverty reduction; economic reforms and poverty in India; assessment of the poverty alleviation policies since independence.
  2. Growth and inequality; trend of nature and causes of income inequality in India; rural urban disparity in income and wealth inequality; public measures to combat against inequality in income and wealth; growth of large industrial houses and middle class.
  3. Estimates of unemployment and its trend; unemployment rates and growth rates; changing dimensions of unemployment; Government plans and programs for reducing unemployment. Employment Guarantee Act- 2005
  1. International Comparisons Comparison of India with other countries with reference to GNI and its inequality; GDP and employment share; income poverty; multidimensional poverty; Human development and other indicators