India Working: Essays on Society and Economy (Contemporary South Asia, Series Number 8)

By drawing on her extensive fieldwork in India and on the adjacent theoretical literature, Barbara Harriss-White describes the working of the Indian economy through its most important social structures of accumulation. Successive chapters explore a range of topics including labour, capital, the state, gender, religious plurality, caste and space. Despite the complexity of the subject, the book is vivid and compelling. The author's intimate knowledge of the country enables the reader to experience the Indian local scene and to engage with the precariousness of daily life. Her conclusion challenges the prevailing notion that liberalisation releases the economy from political interference and leads to a postscript on the economic base for fascism in India. This is an intelligent book, first published in 2002, by a distinguished scholar, for students of economics, as well as for those studying the region. By Drawing On Her Extensive Fieldwork In India, And On The Adjacent Theoretical And Empirical Literature, Barbara Harriss-white Describes The Working Of The Indian Economy Through Its Most Important Social Structures Of Accumulation: Labour, Capital, The State, Gender, Religious Plurality, Caste And The Economic Organisation Of Physical Space. The Author's Intimate Knowledge Of The Country Enables Her To Convey Vividly How India's Economy Is Being Socially Regulated. Her Conclusion Challenges The Prevailing Notion That Liberalisation Releases The Economy From Political Interference, And Leads To A Postscript On The Economic Base For Fascism In India. This Is A Sophisticated And Compelling Book, By A Distinguished Scholar, For Students Of Economics, As Well As For Those Studying The Region.--book Jacket. Introduction: The Character Of The Indian Economy -- Labour, Work And Its Social Construction In India -- Class: Indian Development And The Intermediate Classes -- The Local State And The Informal Economy -- Gender, Family Businesses And Business Families -- India's Religious Plurality And Its Implications For The Economy -- Caste And Corporatist Capitalism -- Space And Synergy -- How India Works -- Postscript: Proto-fascist Politics And The Economy. Barbara Harriss-white. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 272-303) And Indexes. Barbara Harriss-White describes the working of the Indian economy through its most important social structures of accumulation. Successive chapters explore a range of topics including labour, capital, and the state. The author's conclusion challenges the notion that liberalisation releases the economy from political interference.;Introduction: the character of the Indian economy -- Labour, work and its social construction in India -- Class: Indian development and the intermediate classes -- The local state and the informal economy -- Gender, family businesses and business families -- India's religious plurality and its implications for the economy -- Caste and corporatist capitalism -- Space and synergy -- How India works -- Postscript: Proto-fascist politics and the economy. Drawing on her knowledge of the country and on theoretical literature, Barbara Harris-White describes the Indian economy through its most important social structures of accumulation. The book explores a range of topics, including labor, class, the state, gender, religious plurality, caste and space. Harris-White's conclusion adeptly challenges the prevailing belief that liberalization releases the economy from political interference. Development, however it is defined, requires the production and distribution of a surplus.