Yazad Jal of AnarCapLib got a piece published in Rediff about market liberalization and it’s quantitative and qualitative impact on Indian poverty –
…We’ve had cell phones in India for around ten years only (started in September 1995). At that time, it was looked upon as be an expensive toy made for the rich to indulge it, one more luxury. Just a decade later, there are more cell phones than land lines in India. … India’s GDP per capita in 1990, before liberalisation, was $1,300. Today it’s $2,830, more than double. It’s increased at around 5.33 per cent per year.
Even more impressive is that poverty has decreased (you can have economic growth and increases in poverty at the same time). The poverty gap is shrinking and, by all measures, the percentage of poor is declining rapidly. The rate of poverty reduction has accelerated rapidly with the 1991 economic reforms. Manmohan Singh’s legacy as Finance Minister is, to me, as profound as Nehru’s, but far more constructive.
You can find a more personal take on the growth of mobile phones Here too… I think Manmohan Singh’s legacy is MUCH MUCH more constructive than Nehru’s! Things in India are changing, but just not in Internet Time. But it’s sure faster than Indian Standard Time….!
The environment is being screwed over SO horribly. I believe thats the price that is being paid for this “progress”.