Caste, Class, and Capital - The Social and Political Origins of Economic Policy in India

For millions of poor people in the developing world, economic growth offers prospects for improved well-being. But what are the political and social conditions conducive to growth-oriented policies in poor democracies? This book addresses this highly consequential question by focusing on a specific empirical puzzle - policy variation across Indian states in the competition for private industrial investment, a phenomenon that came to the fore after the country adopted market reforms in 1991. Through the analysis of investment policies, this book offers a novel explanation, which links social identity, class, and economic policy outcomes. Its main findings highlight a link between pro-business policies and exclusionary political trends in India's high growth phase, and offer a sobering perspective on the current model of growth in the country. The book adds to our understanding of Indian political economy as well as to the dynamics of economic development in poor democracies.Table of Content1. Introduction: growth-oriented policies and poor electorates; 2. The argument: social identity, electoral coalitions, and investment policies; 3. Diverse policy responses to the competition for investment; 4. Contrasting coalitions and policy outcomes: Gujarat and Punjab; 5. Fluctuating coalitions and commitments: Andhra Pradesh and Bihar; 6. Expanding the scope of analysis; 7. Conclusion.Biographical NoteKanta Murali is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto. Her research interests include comparative political economy of development, Indian politics, politics of growth and economic policy, state-business relations, and labor policy. She holds a Ph.D. in Politics from Princeton University, New Jersey and an M.Sc. in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science.The book traces the social and political origins of economic policy in India during its high growth phase after 1991.