Publications & Resources
Our faculty, students and researchers work together everyday to contribute to a better world by grappling with urgent problems we are facing in India. We conduct rigorous work to produce high quality learning resources and publications to contribute to public discourse and social change. Here, we feature a sample from our work for everyone to access. You can explore featured resources, policies, and the latest publications from the University.
To explore all the work of our University, please visit our publications repository.
CSE Working Paper Series
Rural Transformation in India: What can we learn from village studies?
in Azim Premji University
- Published
- Authors
Abstract
This article examines rural transformation in India through a review of longitudinal village studies conducted over the past three decades. It argues that rural India is not undergoing structural transformation in the classical sense. While labour is steadily moving out of agriculture, this shift has not led to higher productivity in agriculture or the development of a robust rural nonfarm economy. Instead, what unfolds is a process of deagrarianisation, driven by out-migration of male workers to cities where they engage in informal nonfarm employment. This transition is uneven and remains deeply embedded in existing hierarchies of caste, class, and gender, which shape both access to opportunities and outcomes. By identifying common patterns across diverse regional contexts, the article shows how village studies provides a grounded perspective on the nature of rural change.
Author:
C.R. YaduLinks
CSE Working Paper Series
Fiscal Transfers and Inflation- Evidence from India
in Azim Premji University
- Published
- Authors
Abstract
Controlling for monetary policy, government transfers are potentially inflationary. This, however, may not be true when the economy is demandconstrained. Using a panel data of 17 Indian states over 30 years, we show that government transfers via welfare programs do not lead to inflation. For identification, we use a narrative shock series of transfer spending that is based on the introduction of new welfare programs. We then look at a specific program, NREGA, which has been shown to increase rural wages, and show that its implementation did not increase inflation.
Authors:
- Girish Bahal
- Anand Shrivastava
Links
CSE Working Paper Series
The Size Structure of India’s Enterprises- Not Just the Middle is Missing
in Azim Premji University
- Published
- Authors
Abstract
Most international development economics and industrial organization literature emphasises the importance of SMEs (small and medium enterprises) as important to output, but especially to employment generation. Countries have different definitions for SMEs. In India the MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) are defined in terms of investment in plant and machinery or equipment. The MSME Ministry (Annual Report, Government of India 2017 – 18) stated that the sector accounts for 45% of the manufacturing output and 40% of the total exports of the country; also that MSMEs accounted for 30.74% of GDP in 2014– 15. Not surprising, MSMEs are considered a driving force of the economy.
Authors:
- Santosh Mehrotra
- Tuhinsubhra Giri
Links
- Published
- Authors
Abstract
India is one of the world’s fastest growing economies. To be a stable and prosperous democracy, this growth must be accompanied by the creation of meaningful, secure and remunerative employment. Realising this goal requires a grounded and comprehensive overview of the state of labour markets, employment generation, demographic challenges and the nature of growth.
The State of Working India (SWI) is envisioned as a regular publication that delivers well-researched, analytically useful information on India’s labour market, by bringing together researchers, journalists, civil society activists, and policymakers interested in labour and employment issues.
The report is based on the research of CSE staff, as well as on background papers which are available online. SWI conceives of India’s ongoing structural transformation as composed of two processes — movement of workers from agriculture to non-farm occupations (the Kuznets process) and from informal activities to formal ones (the Lewis process). But it adds crucial considerations of social equity and ecological sustainability to this standard framework. In the 21st century, Lewis and Kuznets have to meet Ambedkar and Gandhi.
Report Documents
Figure Data (XLS)
Background Papers
Bijolia’s Harvest of Stone: Conditions of Work Among Quarrying Labour in Rajasthan
Gender Differentials in Expansion of Informal Enterprises
Labour Absorption in Indian Manufacturing: The Case of the Garment Industry
Hard Work, Low Pay : Work Patterns Among Rural Women in West Bengal
Understanding the performance of India’s manufacturing sector: Evidence from firm-level data
The Indian Labour Market: A Fallacy, Two Looming Crises and a Silent Tragedy
Domestic Workers and the Challenges of Collective Action in Informal Work: A comment
Individual Chapters:
Chapter Two : Who Is Looking For Work?
Chapter Three : Where Is the Work?
Chapter Four: How Good Is The Work