Off to Delhi tomorrow for a few days to launch a report on the impact of mobiles in India. As homework this time I read Edward Luce's book 'In Spite of the Gods' which seemed to this non-expert on the country a very good overview of the economy and how the politics work. One of his big themes is that it's only the 'creamy layer', a wonderful Indian English phrase for the elite, which has benefited massively from the reforms and the amazing growth of the country, while the great mass of the Indian people have not. I thought his explanation of how caste-identity politics prevented democratic votes from spreading the benefits of growth was masterly. The theme certainly fits with our mobiles report (at www.vodafone.com/publicpolicyseries from Tuesday), which points to the need for more effective reform if the benefits of communications are to be shared outside the creamy layer. Anyway, my India reading isn't very extensive. I enjoyed William Dalrymple's City of Djinns, and Amartya Sen's The Argumentative Indian. I'd be glad of other recommendations on the economy.
The Enlightened Economist
Economics and business books
There is one by Gurucharan Das ( a former Procter & Gamble executive) called “India Unbound”, that is supposed to be a history of economic reforms in India. I have not read the book. My understanding is that this book is a paean to capitalism.“. He diagnoses the problem as the government being massively corrupt but he still hates free markets, economic reforms, globalisation…
A book from the other point of view is “Everybody loves a good drought” by P.Sainath. Sainath is one of the few reporters that cover the massive poverty in India from the trenches, so you have to give him a lot of credit. But I am fond of his politics – it is kind of “while so many people die of poverty in
Another book is the “The Great Indian Middle Class” by Pavan Varma.
Just back from Delhi, and one does get the strong impression of ineffective government, which the elite manage to work around but tough luck for everyone else. Compared with my last visit in August even the elite parts of the economy seem to be taking a hit from the slowdown and the post-Mumbai attacks slump in tourism. From all accounts a good time to make a trip and negotiate bargain hotel prices. And the weather is fab at this time of year, give or take the early morning fogs.