Political economy

This article argues that based on constitutional provisions and prudent fi scal management principles, freebies can be classifi ed into two broad categories, namely legitimate freebies and distortionary freebies. Legitimate freebies have a signifi cant positive impact on the well-being of vulnerable sections of the population. In contrast, distortionary freebies have an adverse impact on fi scal health, resource utilisation, and resource allocation and can distort economic development.

A Reflection on Sraffa’s Revolution in Economic Theory edited by Ajit Sinha, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, 2021; pp xxv+601, ¤139.99 (hardcover).

Beyond Consumption: India’s New Middle Class in the Neo-Liberal Times edited by Manish K Jha and Pushpendra, London: Routledge, 2022; pp xviii + 205, `995.

The article analyses the impact of globalisation on income and levels of living in the rural sector. It also discusses the changes in India’s stance on food security in global negotiations.

Farmers of Jiwandesar, a village in Rajasthan have waged a struggle for the past two and half decades for getting irrigation water from Gang canal. However, due to the larger political economy of the region where large and influential farmers resist any cutback in their water allowances from the Gang canal and the inert attitude of successive state governments which do not want to antagonise the large farmers’ lobby, the struggle of has not led to a fruition.