First published 2017
Abhijit Banerjee dissects India's stark economic divisions in this rigorous examination of national poverty patterns. The economist travels from rural villages to urban slums, mapping how institutional barriers trap millions in economic hardship while wealth accumulates among elite classes. Banerjee documents the structural forces that maintain these disparities and traces how policy failures perpetuate mass deprivation. His research combines statistical data with direct field work to reveal the mechanisms behind India's inequality crisis. The author moves beyond diagnosis to prescription, outlining specific reforms that could broaden access to economic advancement. This analysis delivers both a clear picture of India's current economic landscape and actionable strategies for building a more balanced distribution of prosperity across Indian society.
Genres: social-science, economics, poverty, social-issues, non-fiction, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism
Setting: India
Period: 1947-
664 pages · Hardcover · Juggernaut