This book explores the early work and activities of Joan Robinson that focused on economic development within underdeveloped countries, in particular India before independence. By analysing the style of Robinson’s thinking and economic analysis, and based on the works of Indian contemporaries, parts of The British Crown and the Indian States previously unattributed to her are seen to exhibit her preoccupation with poverty, backwardness, unemployment, the population problem, international trade, and the role of the state. Through keeping in mind Robinson’s later work, the development of her ideas can be reflected upon, alongside critical perspectives. It also reveals the beginnings of her role as a public intellectual.
This book aims to shed new light on Joan Robinson’s work on development and to provide insight to an overlooked part of her research. It will be relevant to students and researchers interested in the history of economic thought, development economics and economic history.
Author(s): Pervez Tahir
Series: Palgrave Studies in the History of Economic Thought
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 273
City: Cham
Preface
Contents
About the Author
Abbreviations
List of Tables
Chapter 1: Introduction
Part I: In the Land of Princes
Chapter 2: An Unseemly Memsaab
Gun Salute States
India Connection
Resident in Gwalior
References
Unpublished Material
Published Works
Chapter 3: A Tale of Two Robinsons
The Indian Sojourn
Joan’s Friend and a Committee of the Raj
References
Unpublished Material
Published Works
Chapter 4: Discovering a Book
Autobiography of a Co-author
Not Much of a Discovery, After All
Strange Osmosis
References
Unpublished Material
Published Works
Chapter 5: Austin Carries the Day
Official Biographer
Not the Joan of Provocativeness
Blogs on Both of Them
Some Recognition: Finally
References
Unpublished Material
Published Works
Part II: Thinking Development: Then and Later
Chapter 6: Precolonial Underdevelopment
The Concept
Descriptive Features of the Village Economy
Analytics of Stagnation
Social Statics, Caste and Hereditary Occupations
Knitting the Story
References
Chapter 7: Colonial Development
The Idea of Development
Colonialism and the Transition to the World Economy
Economic Nationalism
Western Industrialism
References
Chapter 8: Is There a Common Thread?
Analytical Optimism
Pessimism About Capitalist Development
Leapfrogging
References
Unpublished Material
Published Works
Part III: Transfer of Resources from Princely India to British India
Chapter 9: Net Resource Outflow
Austin Robinson’s Applied Work
The Assumptions
Overall Transfer: An Evaluation
The Harcourt Puzzle
References
Unpublished Material
Published Works
Chapter 10: Liabilities of the States
Defence and Internal Security
Debt Servicing
Railways
Ports and Highways
Post, Telephones and Telegraph
Public Works
References
Published Works
Chapter 11: Revenue Contributions
The Assumptions
Customs
Excise Duties
Income Tax
State Monopolies
Currency and Mints
References
Published Works
Part IV: The Drain, Backwardness and the State
Chapter 12: The Drain and Backwardness
The Drain Controversy
Causes of Backwardness
Economic Development: Problem and Policy
Political Consequence: Interdependent Development
Economic Consequence: Catching Up
References
Published Works
Chapter 13: Role of the State
State, But What State?
State Accumulation
Princes and Development
References
Unpublished Material
Published Works
Chapter 14: Conclusion
I
Archival Manuscripts and Published Sections
II
References
Unpublished Material
Published Works
Appendix 1: Beyond the Butler Report: The Political Economy of an Indian Zollverein
References
Unpublished Material
Published Works
Appendix 2
XXXIII: The Salt Monopoly
Appendix 3
XXXIV: Railways
References
Unpublished Material
Joan Robinson’s Correspondence
Other Unpublished Material in JVR Collection
The Papers of Sir Austin Robinson
Author’s Correspondence
Interviews
Dissertations/Manuscripts
Official Records
Published Works
Index
