[Dec 2007, Volume 4 Quarterly Issue] Pdf File size - The IIPM Think ...

SEARCH, SIEVE, SCHEME...
“Research is formalised curiosity. It is poking
and prying with a purpose.”
Zora Neale Hurston
In economics, like in everyday existence, it is
imperative to hear, perceive and consider what
others have to say. Each issue of The IER brings
together a selection of important contributions on a
particular theme, authored by some of the brightest
minds in different areas of Indian economics. The
provocation for publishing these issues arises from
the fact that over the years economic journals have
become copious, exclusive and expensive. Most of
the journals and a good many of the books have gone
beyond the cerebral and financial reach of general
students and other scholars. It is for them that these
issues are primarily being raised and debated here.
Much about India is transparent enough. One does
not require detailed criteria, cunning calibration or
probing analysis to pinpoint India’s problems and
recognise its antecedents. There is in fact much that
is perceptible about India. But not everything about
India is even if simplistic is so simple. The learned
reader would appreciate the fact that India is like an
elephant that looms too large to be grasped within a
distinct structure and paradigm the constituent parts
of which would fail to reveal the entirety. Obviously and
observably, no suggested solution to any protracted
and complex socio-economic problem will satisfy
all sides and stake-holders evenly. Consequently,
there exists an enormous diversity in economic
thinking and perspectives, as is also reflected in the
viewpoints of different expert contributors in this
issue. The intended outcome of this exercise is to
facilitate the invention, improvement, deliberation
and dissemination of innovation in economic thinking
and national economic planning, insisting merely on
well-grounded, open and unbiased debates, without
predetermined outcomes. It is impossible to do justice
to the entire field of Indian economics in a single
issue. The topics selected for this issue are those
which are of critical and immediate importance to
India. Majority of them were freshly and exclusively
written. Encapsulated, it is a constructive attempt
aimed at helping India actualise its promises and
potential. The editors hope that this issue of IER
will proffer the reader a flavour of dynamism and
excitement and persuade her/him to participate
in the journey towards realising ‘The Great Indian
Dream’. At the same time, it illuminates the terrible,
practical problems of India and Bharat.
HAPPY READING...
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The IIPM Think Tank likes to thank all the internal faculty who have been instrumental in coordinating
with many authors all across India and according their unstinted support. The assistance of Prof.
R.Krishnan and Syed Ahmed (IIPM Chennai), Mr. Tareque Laskar (IIPM Bangalore), Mr. Sudipto
Chatterjee (IIPM Ahmedabad), Prof.Jayanta Chakraborti and Ms. Bindiya Naik (IIPM Pune), has been
more valuable than, perhaps, they realise. Ms. Vareen Gadhoke Ray at Planman Media, particularly, did
all that it was possible to do for this issue of IER.