About the Author

As Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India (1993-2001), Shankar Acharya was deeply involved in the economic reforms of the 1990s. He later served as a Member of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council (2001-2003), the Twelfth Finance Commission (2004) and the National Security Advisory Board (2009-2013). Earlier he worked in the World Bank, where he led the World Development Report team for 1979 and was Research Adviser to the Bank. He has authored nine books and numerous scholarly articles. Currently he is Honorary Professor at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) and serves on the boards of other research organisations, some corporates, charities and the Reserve Bank’s Advisory Committee on Monetary Policy. He has a PhD from Harvard University and BA from Oxford.

Reviews

This book is by far the best exposition of recent developments in, and prospects for Indian economy.The exposition is simple, but scholarly; concise but comprehensive; forthright but elegant; with enviable insights and impressive foresight.” — Y. Venugopal Reddy, Chairman, Fourteenth Finance Commission and former Governor, Reserve Bank of India.

“Shankar Acharya, former Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India, is the authoritative guide to the Indian economy and economic policy-making. The present collection of columns reveals his outstanding virtues of resolute independence, meticulous research, rigorous argument and sober judgement. Read and learn.” — Martin Wolf, Associate Editor and Chief Economics Commentator, Financial Times.

“Shankar Acharya is one of India’s leading economists, and this volume brings together his prescient views on India’s important economic challenges.These lucid essays show a rare mastery of the open economy macroeconomics. He was ahead of the curve in signalling to the fiscal and monetary authorities the impending crisis as well as in outlining the required policy measures. A must read for policy as well as the academic community"" — Vijay Kelkar, Chairman, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi and former Finance Secretary, Government of India.