Economic Transformation and Development Experience of Indian Punjab—An Introduction

Abstract

This chapter presents the framework for economic transformation of a developing economy. It provides lessons that can be learnt from the changing structure of advanced as well as developing economies including India. The situation of Punjab economy and its problems are outlined in historical perspective. Attempt in this chapter is also made to provide the overview of contributions made by well-established scholars on Punjab economy. The chapter concludes with a note that Punjab economy direly needs economic transformation for an economically viable, ecologically sustainable and political and socially stable state of India. This chapter also brings out the emerging consensus on affirmative policy actions urgently required for sustained economic transformation of Punjab economy in twenty-first century.