Selected economic writings

The twenty-nine essays in this volume are divided into four parts. Part 1, Issues in Development Economics, examines some of the major ideas and concerns of development theory. It highlights Chakravarty's effort to create an 'operationally meaningful development paradigm'.

Part II, The Logic of Development Planning, deals with a more specialized body of knowledge, i.e. mathematical planning techniques and models of economic growth. Certain aspects of these are delineated in order to ascertain their use while devising development strategies. A discussion of the neo-classical paradigm of a market solution to developmental problems is also detailed here as one of the major variants among the available strategies.

Part, Development Strategies in India and Abroad, links earlier theoretical discussions with various specific experiences in development.

Part IV comprises a series of tributes by Chakravarty to his contemporaries, all of whom made significant contributions to development economics. These include Joan Robinson, John Hicks, Gunnar Myrdal, Nicholas Kaldor, Rosenstein-Rodan and P.C. Mahalanobis.

An economic theorist of international repute, Professor Chakravarty's contributions to development theory, as well as to Indian economic thought and policy-making, will long be remembered. This volume brings together all his major papers: these were put together by Professor Chakravarty himself, shortly before his premature demise.

This book represents a major contribution to the literature on economics from India.