A Tightrope Between Markets and Welfare: David Engerman on India’s Economic Choices
Last Updated : Jun 12 2025 | 8:46 PM IST
In this exclusive conversation, historian David C. Engerman, author of Apostles of Development, joins Ankur Bhardwaj to discuss the economists who shaped South Asia’s postcolonial development. From Amartya Sen’s welfare vision to Manmohan Singh’s reluctant liberalisation, Engerman explores the enduring tension between growth and equity—and what it means for India today.
Topics include:
– The 1991 reforms and Singh’s balancing act
– The Sen vs Bhagwati economic debate
– Development in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
– US–China rivalry and the Global South’s future