Publications
Publications
- February 2016 (Revised April 2020)
- HBS Case Collection
In the Name of Democracy? The Rise and Decline of India's Congress Party
By: Akshay Mangla and Jonathan Schlefer
Abstract
In 1950 it looked highly doubtful that Indian democracy would hold—typical family income was $6 a month, only about 15% of the population was literate, there were deep religious and ethnic differences, and more than a dozen national languages were spoken. But after a half a century, India had proved to be the first democracy anywhere near so poor to survive. Why? As well, in 1950 India's economic prospects looked bright for a developing country—it had a well-trained government bureaucracy bequeathed by the British, a secure legal system, national railroads, and more advanced industry than, for example, China. Why did the economy do so poorly?
Keywords
Congress Party; Economic Development; Democratization; Economic Reform; Economic Systems; Government and Politics; Developing Countries and Economies; Development Economics; India
Citation
Mangla, Akshay, and Jonathan Schlefer. "In the Name of Democracy? The Rise and Decline of India's Congress Party." Harvard Business School Case 716-068, February 2016. (Revised April 2020.)