An Alternative Philosophy of Development : From Economism to Human Well-being

While development has been the foremost agenda before successive governments in India, it has been viewed narrowly – from the perspective of economic development and particularly in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). This book questions such an approach. It breaks from the conventional wisdom of GDP growth as being a definitive measure of the success of a country’s policies and offers an alternative development philosophy. The author contends that people’s economic and social welfare, life satisfaction, self-fulfilment and happiness should be treated as indicators of real development. The book underlines that in a successful model of development, the country’s economic policies will have to synergize with its cultural ethos and that the objective of development should be gross national happiness and well-being of the people. This book will be useful to scholars and researchers of development studies, economics, public policy and administration, governance, political science and sociology, as well as to policymakers. While Development Has Been The Foremost Agenda Before Successive Governments In India, It Has Been Viewed Narrowly - From The Perspective Of Economic Development And Particularly In Terms Of Gross Domestic Product (gdp). This Book Questions Such An Approach. It Breaks From The Conventional Wisdom Of Gdp Growth As Being A Definitive Measure Of Success Of A Country's Policies And Offers An Alternative Development Philosophy. The Author Contends That People's Economic And Social Welfare, Life Satisfaction, Self-fulfilment And Happiness Should Be Treated As Indicators Of Real Development. The Book Underlines That In A Successful Model Of Development, The Country's Economic Policies Will Have To Synergize With Its Cultural Ethos And That The Objective Of Development Should Be Gross National Happiness And Well-being Of The People. This Book Will Be Useful To Scholars And Researchers Of Development Studies, Economics, Public Policy And Administration, Governance, Political Science, Sociology, And Policymakers. India's Cultural And Civilizational Ethos And Challenge Of Development -- Part I: The Current Socio-economic Setting. Search For Economic Well-being ; Education And Health: Key To Nation's Prosperity ; Agriculture, Rural Distress And Poverty ; Industrial Development: Route To Prosperity ; India's Foreign Trade Deficit, Depreciating Rupee And The Fraud Of Modern Economics ; India's Public Finance Mismanagement: Exploding Debt And Threat Of Bankruptcy -- Part Ii: The Current Economic Ideology And Its Problems. Free Market Ideology And Its Perils ; Environmental Unsustainability Of India's Economic Growth ; A New Development Scenario ; Saving The Economy From The Economists -- Part Iii: Rethinking Development. The Gandhian Alternative To Economic Development ; Revisiting Socialism: Solution To Our Socio-economic Problems ; Good Governance: Pre-requisite For Development -- Part Iv: Culture As Foundation Of Development. Indian Culture: A Spiritual And Humanistic Approach To Life ; Indian Culture And Money: Challenge Of A Materialist World; Quest For Happiness: Public Policies And National Happiness ; Synergizing Development With Cultural Ethos. Birendra Prasad Mathur. A Routledge India Original--cover. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. While development has been the foremost agenda before successive governments in India, it has been viewed narrowly - from the perspective of economic development and particularly in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This book questions such an approach. It breaks from the conventional wisdom of GDP growth as being a definitive measure of success of a country's policies and offers an alternative development philosophy. The author contends that people's economic and social welfare, life satisfaction, self-fulfillment and happiness should be treated as indicators of real development. The book underlines that in a successful model of development, the country's economic policies will have to synergize with its cultural ethos and that the objective of development should be Gross National Happiness and well-being of the people. This book will be useful to scholars and researchers of development studies, economics, public policy and administration, governance, political science, sociology, and policymakers Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- List of illustrations -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- 1 India's cultural and civilizational ethos and challenge of development -- Part I The current socio-economic setting -- 2 Search for economic well-being -- 3 Education and health: key to nation's prosperity -- 4 Agriculture, rural distress and poverty -- 5 Industrial development: route to prosperity -- 6 India's foreign trade deficit, depreciating rupee and the fraud of modern economics -- 7 India's public finance mismanagement: exploding debt and threat of bankruptcy