Federal Transfers and Inter-state Disparities in India


Book Description

A Very Few States In India, Even After More Than Five Decades Of Planning For Development, Can Hardly Claim To Have Achieved The Path Of Self-Sustained Development. Inter-State Disparities Have Persisted In Spite Of Large Constitutionally Provided Statutory Transfers Through The Finance Commission And Non-Statutory Transfers Through The Planning Commission, Central Ministries And Financial Institutions. The Fiscal Disadvantaged States Have Lagged Behind So Much So That These Are Now Termed As Bimaru States Instead Of Backward States. But No One Has Ever Gone To The Genesis Of The Problem. Today There Is Even A Lurking Voice From The Developed States That The Issue Of Equity Should Be Bidden A Farewell And Instead They Should Be Rewarded For Their Better Fiscal Management. An Important Issue Before The Twelfth Finance Commission, Headed By Dr. C. Rangarajan, Is How To Weigh Equity Vs. Efficiency.In The Present Study The Development Of A State Does Not Represent Simply Its Per Capita Income. It Rather Refers To A Comprehensive Index Of Development Prepared By Simulating 18 Indicators Of Development. Then How Much Additional Public Expenditure Is Required For A State To Cross The Below Average Status Is Another Area Of Concern Of The Present Study. This Has Been Juxtaposed With Relative Fiscal Capacity Of The States To Finance The Required Level Of Public Expenditure. Therefore, The Study Is Useful For Instituting Special Fund For The Development Of States. Then How Has The Transfer Of Resources From The Finance Commission, Planning Commission And The Central Ministries Made Any Dent On The Inter-State Disparities? How Far Are The Different Criteria Adopted By The Finance Commission Responsible For The Unabated Growth Of Inter-State Disparities? Another Area Of Concern Of The Present Study Is The Transfer Of Financial Resources To Different States From The Non-Budgetary Sources Like Banks And The Other Financial Institutions.




The Political Economy of Federalism in India


Book Description

This is a comprehensive work on India's fiscal federalism. The book surveys and analyses the evolution of fiscal federalism from the angle of political economy and brings to bear analytical skills of a very high order to assess and relate the political and administrative dimensions of India's federal system to fiscal federal issues. The authors present a synthesized framework, combining both economic and political elements in a political economy prism such as the Cente–State relations with not only the political perspectives but also the economic ones with the belief that only such a framework can provide a useful guide to implementable reform of policies.




Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers


Book Description

The design of intergovernmental fiscal transfers has a strong bearing on efficiency and equity of public service provision and accountable local governance. This book provides a comprehensive one-stop window/source of materials to guide practitioners and scholars on design and worldwide practices in intergovernmental fiscal transfers and their implications for efficiency, and equity in public services provision as well as accountable governance.




Fiscal Deficit of States in India


Book Description

Ever Since The Structural Adjustment Programme Of 1991, The Concern About The Ever Growing Size Of Fiscal Deficit Has Developed. In The Early Eighties It Was Only The Central Government Which Was Suffering From The Malaise Of Deficit Budget, But Since Then The States Have Also Gone Deeper And Deeper Into The Fiscal Crisis So Much So That The Revenue Expenditure Gap Which They Are Experiencing Now Has Become Unsustainable. The Book Provides Both A Theoretical Background And The Empirical Evidence Pertaining To Many States In The Country Insofar As Explicit Explanation Of A Deficit Budget Is Concerned. The Book Illustrates The Various Concepts Of Deficit Which Are Currently In Vogue, Viz., Revenue Deficit, Capital Deficit, Budget Deficit, Fiscal Deficit, Primary Deficit, Net Fiscal Deficit, Net Primary Deficit, Monetized Deficit, Structural Deficit, Etc. Each Concept Has Its Own Merits And Demerits And For The Sound Management Of State Finances, Their Proper Interpretation Is The Pre-Requisite. The Various Articles Published In This Book Have Been Written By Various Economists Working In The Various Universities And Research Institutes In Their Chosen Field Of Research.An Attempt Has Been Made In This Book To Identify Theoretically As Well As Empirically The Factors Which Have Led To The Present Stage Of Impasse In Fiscal Crisis Both At The Centre And At The Level Of Various States. Some Articles In The Book Go Even Beyond That And Try To Provide Useful Solutions Both In The Short-Run And In The Long-Run.




Communities in Action


Book Description

In the United States, some populations suffer from far greater disparities in health than others. Those disparities are caused not only by fundamental differences in health status across segments of the population, but also because of inequities in factors that impact health status, so-called determinants of health. Only part of an individual's health status depends on his or her behavior and choice; community-wide problems like poverty, unemployment, poor education, inadequate housing, poor public transportation, interpersonal violence, and decaying neighborhoods also contribute to health inequities, as well as the historic and ongoing interplay of structures, policies, and norms that shape lives. When these factors are not optimal in a community, it does not mean they are intractable: such inequities can be mitigated by social policies that can shape health in powerful ways. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity seeks to delineate the causes of and the solutions to health inequities in the United States. This report focuses on what communities can do to promote health equity, what actions are needed by the many and varied stakeholders that are part of communities or support them, as well as the root causes and structural barriers that need to be overcome.




India


Book Description

India Is Slowly Awakening From The Sleep Extending Over Half A Century And Gradually Taking Its Rightful Place In The Comity Of Nations. Gone Are The Days When Agrarian Economy Characterized The Indian Economy. Today, Industrial And Services Sectors Are Playing Important Role In The Country S Economy. While Fast Development Is Perceptible In These Sectors, Considerable Progress Has Also Been Made In The Agricultural Sector Owing To The Green Revolution. Consequently, There Has Been A Marked Increase In The National Income Since Independence. But Will It Be Correct To Say That India Has Succeeded In Providing All Its Citizens A Better Quality Of Life? Has It Built Up A Nation Where Even The Poorest Citizen Can Lead A Life Of Simple Dignity With At Least His Basic Needs Being Satisfied? Has It Been Able To Ensure That Not A Single Citizen Will Remain Hungry Even For A Day? Has It Guaranteed An Affordable Shelter To All, And Access To Education To All Its Citizens? Has It Instilled The Spirit Of Unity And Oneness Among The Millions Of Citizens Of Diverse Caste, Creed, Community, Religion Or State? Has The Government Policy Brought A Significant Improvement In The General Lot Or The People Are Still Striving For Their Socio-Economic Rights? Numerous Questions Need To Be Answered To Realise The Steady Progress Of India In Diverse Fields In True Spirit.The Present Book Attempts To Trace The Quality Of Life As Enjoyed By An Average Citizen Of India After More Than Fifty Years Of Independence. Beginning With The Pre-Independence Era, The Book Analyses India S Steady Progress In The Diverse Areas Agriculture, Industry, Infrastructure, Education, Health, Rural Development To Name A Few In The Light Of Progress Made By Countries Like South Korea, Japan, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Etc., Which Judged By Any Standards Are Far Ahead Of India Socio-Economically. Besides, The Basic Question Is Democracy Losing Ground Has Been Approached To From A Different Perspective.It Is Hoped That The Present Book On Socio-Economics Will Appeal To All General Readers Concerned With The Development Of The Indian Economy.




Fiscal Federalism in India


Book Description

This book reviews Centre-State relations in India and the evolution of this relationship over the last fifty years as seen from the perspective of the ten Finance Commissions.




Public Economics In IndiaTheory And Practice


Book Description

Traditionally The Term Public Finance Has Been Applied To The Package Of Those Policies And Operations Which Involve The Use Of Tax And Expenditure Measures, While Budgetary Policy Is An Important Part To Understand The Basic Problems Of Use Of Resources, Distribution Of Income, Etc. There Is A Vast Array Of Fiscal Institutions Tax Systems, Expenditure Programmes, Budgetary Procedures, Stabilization Instruments, Public Debt Policies, Level Of Government, Etc., Which Raise A Spectrum Of Issues Arising From The Operation Of These Institutions. Further, The Existence Of Externalities, Concern For Adjustment In The Distribution Of Income And Wealth, Removal Of Poverty, Etc., Require Political Process For Their Solutions In A Manner Which Combines Individual Freedom And Justice. The Problem Of Allocation Of Resources Between Public Goods And Private Goods Is A Perennial Problem. Then In A Democracy There Is A Political Process Of Voting To Decide About The Budgetary Policy To Be Adopted. Therefore, Now More Attention Is Paid To A Wider Coverage Of Government Activities Relating To Financial Aspects And The Subject Is Known As Public Economics .The Present Book Is An Excellent Presentation Of Fiscal Institutions And A Careful Analysis Of The Issues Underlining Budgetary Policies In General And Indian Experience In Particular. Based On The Curriculum Prescribed By The University Grants Commission (Ugc), It Ideally Caters To The Academic Needs Of Postgraduate Students Of Public Economics. Apart From The Traditional Topics Of Public Finance, I.E. Taxation, Public Expenditure, Public Debt, Fiscal Policy, Federalism, Etc., The Book Contains Chapters On Public Sector Vs. Private Sector, Theory Of Public Choice And Changing Perspective About The Role Of The Government. Special Focus Of The Book Is On Indian Public Finances Including The Fiscal Crisis Of 1991 And Fiscal Sector Reforms.




Indian Economy


Book Description

At The Time Of Attainment Of Independence, The Indian Economy Was In A Bad Shape. Centuries Of Exploitative Rule By The British Had Drained India Of Its Wealth. The Realization Of The Need For Resurrecting The Indian Economy Had Dawned Upon Our Leaders Even Before Independence. The National Planning Committee (Npc) Was Constituted In 1938 To Study Various Aspects Of Economic Development. After Independence, The Planning Commission Was Set Up In 1950 To Assess The Country S Needs For Material Capital And Formulate Economic Plans.During The Initial Years Of Planning Major Thrust Was To Develop Heavy And Basic Industries To Reduce The Country S Dependence On Import Of Machinery And Equipment, And Initiate Self-Sustained Long-Term Growth. The Progress Under The Nehru-Mahalanobis Model Of Growth Which Continued Upto The 1980S Was Slow. The 1990S Saw Major Shifts In Economic Policies With The Introduction Of Privatization And Liberalization In The Form Of Industrial Delicensing And Opening Up Of Indian Economy To International Trade. The Economic Reforms, Together With The Adoption Of New Technologies And Building Up Of Infrastructure, Have Led To A High Annual Gdp Growth Rate Of Over Eight Per Cent For The Last Three Years. Nearly All Economic Indicators Are In The Positive Zone.Paradoxically, However, The Country Is Experiencing Shortages In Amenities, Infrastructure And Essential Services. The Basic Objectives Of Alleviation Of Poverty, Generation Of Adequate Employment Opportunities And Removal Of Inequalities Of Income And Wealth Have Not Been Realized. Growth Is, By And Large, Confined To Our Urban Areas.The Book Studies The Structure And Features Of Indian Economy And Analyses All The Important Issues Relating Thereto. It Includes Latest Facts And Figures. It Will Be Useful To The Economists, Government Executives, Parliamentarians And Legislators To Frame Effective Policies. The Coverage And Treatment Of The Subject Will Immensely Help Students Of Economics And The Aspiring Candidates Of Various Competitive Examinations.




Studies in Indian Economy


Book Description

India S Economy, Which For Decades Was Stuck With The So-Called Hindu Rate Of Growth Around 3 Per Cent, Has Hit The 9 Per Cent Mark For The Last Two Consecutive Years. Leading Economists Hold That The Growth Can Be Sustained In The Coming Years If The Government Can Put In Place More Reforms And Implement Them. There Is No Denying The Fact That The Initiatives Taken In The Early 1990S Continue To Reap The Rewards And Have Enabled India To Become The Fourth Largest Gdp In The World In Terms Of Purchasing Power. The Policy-Driven Reforms Have Taken Our Country From The Third World Status To One That Plays A Part, Albeit Small, In Defining The Fate Of The Global Economy. The Country Is In The Midst Of A Great Transformation, Almost Epochal In Scope. Everything Is Positive In The Economy Today Manufacturing Is Resurgent, Services Going Strong, Revenue Collection Buoyant, Export Jumping 37.3 Per Cent, Foreign Investment Flows Strong And No Overheating Of The Economy. There Is A New Sense Of Optimism And A Willingness To Take Risk And Think Big Among The Business Tycoons. Simply Put, Indians Can Get Ready To Uncork The Bubbly To Celebrate Unprecedented Growth In The Coming Years.The Rapid Growing Economy, However, Brings Its Own Share Of Problems. Agriculture Is Not Keeping Pace With The Overall Buoyancy And There Has Been A Rise In Inflation Rate. Besides, Poor Infrastructure, Antiquated Labour Laws, Low Quality Education For All Except The Elites, Dismal Health Services, And Widening Of Rural Urban Disparities Are Only Few Of The Many Constraints Which India Cannot Afford To Overlook.In Economy Some Legs March In The Wrong Direction, Some In The Right One. But If There Are More Right-Moving Legs, They Can Negate The Wrong Ones And Move The Economy In Their Direction. The Present Book Seeks To Suggest The Right Initiatives And Reforms Through Its Articles And Speeches Contributed By Eminent Economists. It Emphasises That In The Present Scenario Reform Should Focus On Four Areas Concerted Efforts To Bring About Second Green Revolution, Measured Strategies To Deregulate Priority Industries, Substantial Push For Infrastructural Development, And Strong Encouragement Of Manufacturing Alongside Knowledge-Based Services. Such Measures Will Undoubtedly Ensure Inclusive Growth In The Country And Enable The Gdp Growth Not Only To Reach But Even To Sustain The Magical Double-Digit Figures As Projected By Many Economists. The Book Aims At Acquainting Readers With The Economic Scenario In India In Its True Spirit On One Hand And Suggests Effective Measures To Meet The Challenges Ahead On The Other.It Is Hoped That The Book Will Be Found Highly Useful By The Researchers And Students Of Economics; Government Executives, Parliamentarians And Legislators Concerned With The Formulation And Execution Of Economic Policies; And The General Readers Keen To Know In Depth The Present State Of Indian Economy And The Challenges Ahead.