Essays in Economics and Other Cheerful Themes: A Dismal Scientist’s Occasional Reflections on the World Around Him

This collection of writings by S. Subramanian, a former professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai who has worked extensively on aspects of poverty, inequality and demography, examines economy, polity and society of India, addressing conceptual and empirical issues in development at national and global levels. Writing in an accessible language and in non-technical terms, it has essays on deprivation and disparity in the world and in India, focusing on aid flows, human development and human rights, inclusive development and status of the child. The essays comment on a variety of topics including the genocide perpetrated against communities as in the Gujarat communal riots in 2002, the creamy layer principle in reservations and issues related to miscellaneous topics like the conduct of academic institutions, cricket and films.