In the run-up to the Union Budget, due to be presented in a month from now, one common refrain is an increase in social welfare spending. Now, a new book—Accelerating India’s Development—argues that there is an equally compelling metric: state capacity. Mere funneling of extra funds won’t do the trick.
Coincidentally, the book authored by Karthik Muralidharan, professor of economics at the University of California, comes at a time when the incumbent National Democratic Alliance (NDA) just padded up for its third innings at the helm.
To unpack the insights, some of which can serve as a blueprint for the government, StratNews Global spoke to Professor Muralidharan.
Anil Padmanabhan has been a journalist for the last 36 years. He has worked in various capacities in several publications including Afternoon Despatch & Courier, Press Trust of India, Business Standard, Mint and was based in New York for India Today. He was a Nieman Fellow in 2001. He tweets at @capitalcalculus.
