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?
Comment on the growth rate trends witnessed in China and India in the last two decades.
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.
Give reasons for the slow growth and re-emergence of poverty in Pakistan.
What similar developmental strategies have India and Pakistan followed for their respective developmental paths?
Mention the salient demographic indicators of China, Pakistan and India.
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?
Find the odd man out (i) rickshaw puller who works under a rick-shaw owner (ii) mason (iii) mechanic shop worker (iv) shoeshine boy.
The following table shows distribution of workforce in India for the year 1972-73. Analyse it and give reasons for the nature of workforce distribution. You will notice that the data is pertaining to the situation in India 30 years ago!
Place of Residence | Workforce (in millions) | ||
Male | Female | Total | |
Rural Urban |
125 32 |
69 7 |
195 39 |
What were the main causes of India’s agricultural stagnation during the colonial period?
What is the meaning of quantitative restrictions?
Bring out the importance of animal husbandry, fisheries and horticulture as a source of diversification.
Discuss the main drawbacks of our health care system.
Bring out the differences between human capital and human development.
Underscore some of India’s most crucial economic challenges at the time of independence.
Give a quantitative appraisal of India’s demographic profile during the colonial period.
Examine the role of education in the economic development of a nation.