Saturday, 8 November 2025

Rethinking Growth: My First Lessons in Development Economics

 I thought economic growth of an economy is inevitable.

Something that would happen naturally — because how can growth and development be stopped... no one wants that, right?

This semester break, I tried studying development economics. The recent Nobel Prizes, the loads of research going on in this field, and being a future of a developing country like India — this subject definitely had to be one of my interests.

This blog includes the readings that struck me and helped me develop a new wave of thinking.

  1. I discovered that growth could slow down or even reverse, even though we don’t want this to happen. Possible reasons include poor infrastructure, inequality, corruption, political instability, wars, or natural calamities.

  2. Growth and development only come with the right institutions and a sound mindset of the people of the country.

  3. I could relate the Hindi proverb “Boond boond se sagar banta hai” and say that growth is a result of collective tiny efforts taken over a long period of time.

  4. The Kerala paradox — a highly educated and socially developed state in India, yet facing economic challenges like unemployment and migration — made me curious about why social progress doesn’t always translate into economic growth. It shows how good education and welfare alone are not enough unless supported by strong economic opportunities.

  5. I went through the growth models and the well-known development economists, but honestly, I still need to strengthen my hold on them.

Studying development economics made me realize that growth is not a straight path — it’s shaped by people, policies, and persistence. Behind every data point, there’s a story of opportunity or struggle. The subject opened my eyes to how complex and human-centered development really is.

I’ve just scratched the surface, but it’s a start toward understanding how we can make growth more inclusive, sustainable, and real for everyone.

“Growth doesn’t just happen; it’s something we build, nurture, and protect.”




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