Indian economic reform and response of states

The book is an important and timely publication as it contains the feed-back of the states on the reform programme. A decade of economic reform is completed in India and the second generation reforms measures are underway. At this backdrop an attempt has been made to examine the state level responses to the various economic reforms, to assertain the merits and demerits, the advantages and dis advantages, the problems and constraints encountered in the implemention of the schemes. Several distinguished scholars from different parts of the country made penetrating analysis of the problems and prospects of the states. The volume as such has a wide range of coverage and is divided into five parts.

Section I deals with the Fiscal Dynamics of the states and specific taxes.

Section II examines the impact of Globalisation, Privatisation and the importance of Information Technology.

Section III presents the cases of state economics of Maharashtra, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand.

Section IV focuses on the importance of social capital and distribution.

Section V brings forward the problems and prospects of the rural sector with particular reference to water, credit and labour management.

The study indicates that far from being a convergent process of growth there is a widening gap among the states that calls for careful implementation of the reform agenda.