In Service of the Republic: The Art and Science of Economic Policy
India's journey toward becoming a trillion-dollar powerhouse has hit a troubling snag. The years between 1991 and 2011 witnessed both explosive expansion and a dramatic reduction in poverty, yet the engine that drove such progress has stalled since then. What derailed such promise? Where did strategy stumble? These questions haunt policymakers and economists alike. Vijay Kelkar and Ajay Shah, both seasoned in economic thought and government service, bring decades of frontline experience to bear on this puzzle. Their book weaves together rigorous economic analysis with political philosophy and the messy realities of governance. The writing avoids jargon, instead grounding complex ideas in practical detail. You'll encounter both the conceptual foundations underpinning sound policy and the unglamorous operational challenges that confront anyone actually trying to reshape a nation's direction. The stakes couldn't be higher. Can India dodge the middle-income trap that snares so many developing nations? Will the country prosper before demographic shifts make growth harder? Beyond these urgent puzzles sits a deeper question: how does a republic fulfil its founding covenant? This volume offers serious thinking for anyone genuinely curious about India's economic crossroads.
- Author: Vijay Kelkar
- Publisher: Allen Lane
- Genre: Social Sciences
- ISBN: 978-9353057138
- Pages: 525 pages