Economics for Everyman

Jean Drèze’s Sense and Solidarity – Jholawala Economics for Everyone is a collection of his essays from about 1999 till date on issues ranging from employment guarantee and hunger to nuclear disarmament. A collection of essays might not seem as inviting as an original work, but this one is based on an interesting, and an ultimately rewarding premise. In the introduction, Drèze talks about the value of personal experience and argues that it is as useful as statistical data in formulating theory and policy. Hence, “ jholawala economics” — a term which, he assures, is not a declaration of ideology, instead an attempt to marry the passion and field-based personal experience of the jholawala to the empirical reasoning of the economist. The fact that Drèze happens to be a respected jholawala activist and an equally-respected economist makes him uniquely placed to make this argument.

The book is divided into sections, with each prefaced by an introduction to the issue. Every section (there are 10: ‘Drought and Hunger’, ‘Poverty’, ‘School Meals’, ‘Health Care’, ‘Child Development and Elementary Education’, ‘Employment Guarantee’, ‘Food Security and Public Distribution System’, ‘Corporate Power and Technocracy’, ‘War and Peace’ and ‘Top-Up’ — essays which do not strictly fall within the purview of the other nine) includes pieces written in the early- to mid-2000s and ends with more recent writings. Each section not only provides the reader an informed opinion, but communicates in an easy manner the changes that have been at work. For instance, ‘Child Development’ makes it easy to discern the massive improvements in the educational and anganwadi (childcare crèches) systems since the early 2000s, as well as the reasons for the changes. These essays, apart from giving a macro-view of the facts, figures and percentages, also provide insights into the lived experience of people who are the beneficiaries of the government’s welfare schemes. Certain trends, such as the continued primacy of certain States, and the need for universal application of welfare schemes, become obvious. It is only because the author (and co-authors, in certain cases) are able to explain the theory and application of policies with such easy authority that these complex issues are effortlessly understood.

A large part of this book relies on Drèze’s experiences over the last two decades as a researcher and activist. They afford him remarkable insight, and he makes a pressing case for schemes such as the old-age pension currently offered by the Central government. Though a mere ₹200, Drèze argues for its importance to beneficiaries. This couple of hundreds, he says, gives them a sense of stability as well as allows them to buy the occasional treat to win the affections of a grandchild.

While dealing with welfare policies the unit of analysis has to be the individual beneficiary. A familiarity with the beneficiary makes planning all the more fruitful.

Drèze admits the inherent risks in relying on personal experiences, and argues the jholawala needs the economist as much as the economist needs the j holawala . The book is clearly an attempt at communication, to initiate dialogue that can improve the way policies are formulated, and to ensure they are implemented the way they were envisaged.

It is surprising to know that on many indicators of public health, India fares worse than Bangladesh and Nepal, our much poorer neighbours. India has seen less conflict than either of these countries in the last 20 years. Yet, they appear to have tackled issues of child vaccinations and access to safe water and toilets more effectively. Our continued failures in these areas necessitate a more involved approach, one which includes civil society as well as healthy, democratic debates.

Drèze surprisingly calls the first budgets presented by the incumbent NDA government, a ‘Nehruvian Budget in the Corporate Age’, an appellation that would surely not please either side of the political divide. He argues that ideas of development through public spending without an investment in ‘human capital’ have proven insufficient. The decrease in fund allocation to critical schemes such as the Integrated Child Development Services, and the problems in the Public Distribution System after attempts to mandatorily link it with the Aadhaar scheme, indicate that the gains made over the past decade may well be at risk. The author’s experience as well as his familiarity with the issues facing health, education, housing and sanitation sector, makes him an apt commentator. There is much reason for hope and much scope for work — that is the message of the jholawala economist.

Sarim Naved is a lawyer and writer based in Delhi

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