Professor Padma Desai
Reviews of Her Books
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Professor Padma Desai Reviews of Her Books
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"This
book remains one of the best that has been written about
a
very important and hitherto neglected problem area, and
for
people with a serious interest in the economic development
South Asian Review
"An
outstanding contribution to the vast literature on India's
classic in the literature not only on Indian economic development
but ... in many respects ... on economic development
and industrialization as a whole."
Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv
"A masterly treatise on [the] Indian economy ... Ministers, planners, economists, students and teachers need to take a
good hard look at the contents of this work."
Southern
Economist, Bangalore
"[the
authors] treat the history of the Indian plan with much
been
done before.... Nobody who wants to understand what is
ground [they] provide."
International Affairs
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The Soviet Economy: Problems and Prospects
Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1987. Paperback edition, 1990.
|
'Amongst
students of the Soviet economy, Padma Desai is noted not only for her Russian
expertise but for her concern for technical rigor. This is a masterly volume.'
Abram
Bergson
'Penetrating, insightful and wide‑ranging in scope, these essays should be on the bookshelf of every serious student of the Soviet economy.'
Franklyn Holzman
'Professor
Desai's book makes clear that Sovietology is ripe for advanced techniques and
reasoning. The book is a brilliant example of this approach.'
H.
J. Wagener, Economica
'A
substantial body of work, which advances our knowledge of the growth process in
a centralized economy in several directions.'
J.
Michael Montias, Journal of Comparative Economics
'Combines
theoretical elegance, econometric sophistication, and precise handling of
empirical evidence. Many general economists will enjoy Desai's sophisticated and
rigorous appraisal of the Soviet system. Policymakers will quote from her
conclusions.'
Holland
Hunter, The Annals
of the American Academy of Polifical and Social Science
'Padma
Desai is a pioneer in the application of quantitative methods to the study of
scientists.'
R.
W. Davies, The Times
Nigher Educational Supplement
'Particularly
ingenious and innovative. The book is to be highly recommended to all
S.
Gomulka, The
Manchester School
"Perestroika in Perspective is . . . accessible to the general reader, and ranges ... widely to examine political, social, and cultural
forces linked to
economic change. It offers a sound ... review of Mr. Gorbachev's reform
program."
Philip Taubman, The New York Times Book Review
"In
this short, uncomplicated book, Desai provides in layman's terms a marvelously
succinct description of what Gorbachev is attempting to do, and a sound
discussion of the difficulties he faces in doing it."
Nicolai N. Petro, Orbis
"As
an introduction to the subject, [Perestroika
in Perspective] is a
John Barber, London Review of Books
"A
lively little book on perestroika. . . . Perestroika in the Soviet Union is
potentially the most significant of all contemporary ventures. It is one of the.
merits of this book that it makes clear not only how difficult is the starting
point, but how uncertain is the goal."
Martin Wolf, Financial Times
"In a careful, lucid analysis of industrial, agricultural, co‑op and foreign
trade policies, [Desai] raises reasonable doubts about [Gorbachev's]
strategy. . . . Desai argues cogently that Gorbachev and his
Robert Sharlet, The New Leader
 |
Going
Global: Transition from Plan to Market in the World Economy, (Editor)
The MIT Press, December 1997. Second Edition in 1999. The Chinese translation of the book appeared in 1999. |
"A considerable number of economies have been in the process of transition for a number of years, and their different experiences provide evidence on what works and what does not. Padma Desai's fine volume collates and assesses this evidence... The country studies will be of interest and value to specialists, and to those who seek a detailed description of the early stages of transition in particular countries. For the more general reader, however, the most interesting and rewarding chapter in the volume with be Desai's introduction, which uses the experiences reported in the country studies in an effort to draw a conclusion from the whole."
Brian Hindley,The Times Literary Supplement, January 15, 1999
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Financial Crisis, Contagion, and Containment:
From Asia to Argentina
Princeton University Press, June 2003. |
"The best book yet about the financial crises that have swept the world in recent years. Desai offers a comprehensive, critical survey that will unsettle ideologues right and left. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the global economy."
Paul Krugman, Professor of Economics and International Affairs, Princeton University
"Padma Desai attacks head-on fundamental questions about the compatibility of small emerging country economies with inherently volatile global financial markets--questions that have too often been ignored or glossed over in the policy debate."
Paul Volcker, Former Chairman, The Federal Reserve
"Padma Desai's thorough and insightful analysis of the financial crises that have devastated many emerging market economies over the past several years is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the downside of the
global financial system. Her forceful policy recommendations deserve to be considered at the highest level."
George Soros
"Padma Desai’s stimulating and path-breaking comparative analysis of the pace and sequencing of financial liberalization processes has profound implications for the planning of national policies and the structure of international financial cooperation. The book makes an outstanding contribution to our understanding of these complex issues, and to the designing of sensible proposals for rebuilding the international financial architecture."
Manmohan Singh, Former Finance Minister of India
"Professor Padma Desai has long stood as a voice for caution, pragmatism, and common sense against those who would impose untested economic models on economies in transition. In this book, she turns her attention to the central asymmetry of the world financial system: rich countries retain the privilege of managing their economies, while poor countries, having liberalized their financial markets prematurely, remain hostage to volatile capital flows, and when the inevitable crisis strikes, have to succumb to ill-fitting arrangements designed for them by the International Monetary Fund. This is a book that should be read widely."
Dani Rodrik, Rafiq Hariri Professor of International Political Economy, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
