China’s rapid industrial growth can be traced back to its reforms in 1978. Do you agree? Elucidate.
Yes, it cannot be denied that China's rapid industrial growth is an aggregate outcome of the various economic reforms that were introduced in phases since 1978. In the initial phase, reforms were initiated in agriculture, foreign trade and investment sectors. The system of collective farming known as Commune System was implemented. Under this system, land was divided into small plots that were allocated to the individual households. These households were allowed to keep the remaining income from land after paying the taxes to the government. In the later phase, reforms were initiated in the industrial sector. During this phase, the private firms and village and township enterprises were allowed to produce goods and services and to compete with the State Owned Enterprises. The reforms also included dual pricing. The dual pricing implies that the farmers and the industrial units were required to buy and sell a fixed quantity of inputs and output at the price fixed by the government and the remaining quantities were traded at the market price. Gradually, with the rapid increase in the aggregate production in the later years, the quantities traded in the market increased by many folds. The reforms also included setting up of Special Economic Zones to attract foreign investors. Therefore, China's rapid industrial growth is attributable to the success of different phases of its economic reforms.
Compare and contrast the development of India, China and Pakistan with respect to some salient human development indicators.
Define the liberty indicator. Give some examples of liberty indicators.
Why are regional and economic groupings formed?
Explain the Great Leap Forward campaign of China as initiated in 1958.
What are the various means by which countries are trying to strengthen their own domestic economies?
Group the following features pertaining to the economies of India, China and Pakistan under three heads
• One-child norm
• Low fertility rate
• High degree of urbanisation
• Mixed economy
• Very high fertility rate
• Large population
• High density of population
• Growth due to manufacturing sector
• Growth due to service sector.
Comment on the growth rate trends witnessed in China and India in the last two decades.
Give reasons for the slow growth and re-emergence of poverty in Pakistan.
Mention the salient demographic indicators of China, Pakistan and India.
What similar developmental strategies have India and Pakistan followed for their respective developmental paths?
What was the focus of the economic policies pursued by the colonial government in India? What were the impacts of these policies?
What are the two major sources of human capital in a country?
What do you mean by rural development? Bring out the key issues in rural development.
Define a plan?
Who is a worker?
Explain the term ‘infrastructure’.
What is meant by environment?
Why were reforms introduced in India?
Why calorie-based norm is not adequate to identify the poor?
Name some notable economists who estimated India’s per capita income during the colonial period?
India has certain advantages which makes it a favourite outsourcing destination. What are these advantages?
Do you think the navaratna policy of the government helps in improving the performance of public sector undertakings in India? How?
What are the major factors responsible for the high growth of the service sector?
Do you think outsourcing is good for India? Why are developed countries opposing it?
Why has the industrial sector performed poorly in the reform period?
Discuss economic reforms in India in the light of social justice and welfare.
What do you understand by devaluation of rupee?
What is the meaning of quantitative restrictions?
The following table shows the population and worker population ratio for India in 1999-2000. Can you estimate the workforce (urban and total) for India?
Region | Estimates of Population (in crores) |
Worker Population Ratio |
Estimated No. of Workers (in crores) |
Rural Uraban Total |
71.88 28.52 100.40 |
41.9 33.7 39.5 |
71.88/100 x 41.9 = 30.12 ? ? |
The newly emerging jobs are found mostly in the sector (service/manufacturing).