VoxDev Development Economics S6 Ep41: India’s economic development since independence
22 snips
Oct 15, 2025 
Devesh Kapur, a professor at Johns Hopkins and co-author of *A Sixth of Humanity*, and Arvind Subramanian, former Chief Economic Advisor to India and senior fellow at the Peterson Institute, dive into India's unique development journey. They explore how India's democratic struggles shaped policy, the impact of state-led planning, and the dual narratives of rapid growth and rising inequality. Their insights reveal the significance of regional analysis in development and caution against moves away from India’s secular foundations, emphasizing the lessons for global growth.
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Nation Building Shaped Economic Choices
- India’s nation-building and economic development ran concurrently and cannot be separated.
- Devesh Kapur argues political choices shaped economic outcomes and vice versa.
Growth Surge Began In The 1980s
- India was not a 75-year growth miracle; major growth acceleration began in the mid-1980s.
- Arvind Subramanian shows India grew rapidly only in the last three to four decades, not the first 30 years.
Democracy Used As Nation-Building Tool
- Democracy in India was 'precocious' and used as the primary nation-building tool.
- Devesh Kapur says universal franchise helped integrate diverse regions and populations.
