Reflections on Indian Economic Development and Reform in the Light of Japan.

The overall record of planned economic development in India over almost half a century has been very poor in terms of the major objectives of transforming the economy and eradication of mass poverty. In this paper, drawing primarily on works on the development of Japan and South Korea, we identify three principal failures: (a) neglecting the traditional sector, (b) inability to initiate a process of learning and capability building and (c) inability to build up a productive government-business relationship. The political economy of these failures are explored and the contrast with Japan is highlighted.