Book review: reforms and economic transformation in India by Jagdish Bhagwati and Arvind Panagariya

Swati Dhingra of London School of Economics and Political Science reviews, “Reforms and Economic Transformation in India” edited by Jagdish Bhagwati and Arvind Panagariya. The Econlit abstract of this book begins: “Nine papers explore economic policy reforms in India and consider why their impact has not been as significant as it has been in other reform-oriented economies. Papers discuss labor regulations and firm size distribution in Indian manufacturing; complementarity between formal and informal manufacturing in India—the role of policies and institutions; services growth in India—a look inside the black box; organized retailing in India—issues and outlook; selling the family silver to pay the grocer's bill?—the case of privatization in India; variety in, variety out—imported input and product scope expansion in India; reforms and the competitive environment; the postreform narrowing of inequality across castes—evidence from the states; and entrepreneurship in services and the socially disadvantaged in India. Bhagwati is University Professor of Economics and Law at Columbia University. Panagariya is Professor of Economics and Jagdish Bhagwati Professor of Indian Political Economy at Columbia University.”