The Cambridge Economic History of Modern South Asia, Part 2, South Asia, 1947 to Present

South Asia's economies, as well as the scholarship on their economic histories, have been transformed in recent decades. This landmark new reference history will guide economists and historians through these transformations in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. Part I revisits the colonial period with fresh perspectives and updated scholarship, incorporating recent research on topics such as gender, caste, environment, and entrepreneurship. The contributors highlight the complex and diverse experiences of different groups to offer a more nuanced understanding of the past. Part II focuses on economic and social changes in South Asia over the last seventy-five years, offering a comprehensive view of the region's historical trajectory. Together, the contributions to this volume help to reassess the impact of colonialism through a more informed lens, as well as providing analysis of the challenges and progress made since independence.

About the Author

Latika Chaudhary is Associate Professor of Economics at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California. Her recent publications include 'Railways, Development and Literacy in India' in the Journal of Economic History (2023) and 'The Growth Contribution of Colonial Indian Railways in Comparative Perspective' in Economic History Review (2024).

Tirthankar Roy is Professor of Economic History at the London School of Economics. His publications include Water and Development: The Troubled Economic History of the Arid Tropics and Land or Sea? How Geography Shaped the Emergence of Colonialism.

Anand V. Swamy is Class of 1924 Professor of Economics, Williams College. He is a co-author of Law and the Economy in Colonial India (2016), and Law and the Economy in a Young Democracy (2022).