Pranab Bardhan: Assessing the Economic Rise of China and India

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Berkeley economist Pranab Bardhan for a discussion of his new book, Awakening Giants, Feet of Clay. Bardhan discusses his interest in poverty and inequality in the context of his intellectual odyssey. He then focuses on the myths and realities surrounding the emergence of China and India, addressing several questions including:  What have these countries achieved?  How did they do it? How do they compare in terms of inequality and social welfare?  What are the factors that explain their reemergence as economic powerhouses?  What has been the impact of globalization on their trajectory? Will they succeed in reconciling economic efficiency with democratic accountability?