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.

Highlights how Joan Robinson's early work influenced her defining contributions to economics Explores the transition of colonial countries to the world economy Presents some otherwise inaccessible contributions of Joan Robinson

Autorentext
Dr Pervez Tahir completed his PhD in Economics from the University of Cambridge in 1990 and held the Joan Robinson Memorial Lectureship in the same year. Currently Chairman of the Bank of Punjab, Pakistan, he has had a long career in the Government of Pakistan, starting in 1974 as the Deputy Economic Adviser of Ministry of Finance and rising to be the Chief Economist of the Planning Commission in 2000. He retired as Managing Director of the National Energy Conservation Centre. In 2007-08, he served as Mahbub ul Haq Chair at Government College University, where he received his Master and worked as a lecturer in 1971-72. The Forman Christian College University, Lahore, appointed him Professor/Head of Department of Economics in 2009. Before joining Government, he was the Economic Correspondent of the Pakistan Times and Editor of the weekly, Punjab Punch. Presently, he writes for the Express Tribune.

Inhalt

Part I. In the Land of Princes.- 1. An Unseemly Memsaab.- 2. A Tale of Two Robinsons.- 3. Discovering a Book.- 4. Austin Carries the Day.- Part II. Thinking Development: Then and Later.- 5. Precolonial Underdevelopment.- 6. Colonial Development.- 7. Is There a Common Thread?.- Part III. Transfer of Resources from Princely India to British India.- 8. Net Resource Outflow.- 9. Liabilities of the States.- 10. Revenue Contributions.- Part IV. The Drain, Backwardness and the State.- 11. The Drain and Backwardness.- 12. Role of the State.

<p