Indian Economic Development: Comparative Development Experiences of India and its Neighbours

Topics in this chapter

• Comparing Development Indicators
• India’s Planning and Reforms
• China’s Reforms and Growth
• Pakistan’s Development Experience
• Structural Change and Sectoral Development
• Demography, Human Capital and Employment
• Development Lessons and Disparities

Cheat sheet

Practice questions

1. Question 1Q-258B53

   Which policy measure was a major feature of China's economic reforms initiated in 1978?

   1. A.Immediate abolition of all state-owned enterprises
   2. B.Introduction of agricultural reforms and gradual opening to foreign investment
   3. C.Complete closure of the economy to international trade
   4. D.Replacement of markets with a fully centralised planning system
   See the answer and solution
2. Question 2Q-098630

   Why is per capita income alone an inadequate basis for comparing the development of India, China and Pakistan?

   1. A.It measures only the size of a country's population
   2. B.It does not capture important aspects such as health, education and life expectancy
   3. C.It is calculated only for agricultural workers
   4. D.It completely ignores the production of goods and services
   See the answer and solution
3. Question 3Q-28371D

   Which statement best explains China's relatively rapid economic growth compared with India and Pakistan after its reforms?

   1. A.China relied only on agriculture and avoided industrialisation
   2. B.China combined state direction with gradual market-oriented reforms, investment in infrastructure and expansion of manufacturing
   3. C.China achieved growth by permanently banning foreign trade
   4. D.China focused exclusively on expanding public employment without raising productivity
   See the answer and solution
4. Question 4Q-2ABDAF

   State two important features of China's economic reforms and explain how they contributed to its development.

   See the answer and solution
5. Question 5Q-8B5592

   Among India, China and Pakistan, which country has generally recorded the lowest fertility rate and the highest life expectancy, reflecting a more advanced demographic transition?

   1. A.India
   2. B.China
   3. C.Pakistan
   4. D.All three countries have identical demographic indicators
   See the answer and solution