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.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
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.
Democracy Gave And Took Away
- Democracy both enabled order and constrained some policy choices like land reform and fiscal discipline.
- Arvind Subramanian explains democratic pressures led the state to prioritize welfare over public-goods investment.
Private Sector Was Crushed Early On
- Early planning crushed domestic private enterprise through heavy controls and taxes.
- Arvind Subramanian argues this domestic suppression, not just import substitution, harmed growth.
