Covid-19 Pandemic and Economic Development

This book offers a comprehensive analysis of the pre-Covid-19 and post-Covid-19 situation and public policy measures needed to revive the economy in the light of the recent initiatives by the state government, including a committee to suggest post-Covid-19 revival strategy. This collection of essays by specialized author/s in her/his/their area of research examines the impact of Covid-19 in the larger context of economic and developmental context of Punjab, ranging from basic developmental transformation analysis to the specific policy issues in each sector and policy domain, including the larger developmental crisis in the context of the regional economy and society of Punjab. The sectors analysed include: agriculture including dairy sector and agricultural markets, industry, services, education, health, besides fiscal, banking, diaspora, gender, governance, and sustainability challenges the state economy faces. It dwells on sector specific issues as well as ways forward for betterment of livelihoods of those engaged, especially farmers and industrial and service sector informal workers.

Sukhpal Singh is Professor at the Centre for Management in Agriculture, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), India. He is former DG at Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development, Chandigarh; former Professor and Head at Institute of Economic Growth, New Delhi, India. He is fellow of the ISAE and founding co-editor, Millennial Asia: an intl. journal of Asian studies. He has been a visiting fellow at the IDS, Chulalongkorn University, University of Manchester, and the Copenhagen Business School.

Lakhwinder Singh is former professor and head of the Department of Economics, Punjabi University, Patiala, India. He has founded Centre for Development Economics and Innovation Studies, Punjabi University. He has remained a visiting research fellow, Seoul National University, South Korea, and a post-doctoral fellow at Yale University, USA. His recent book is Agricultural Innovation Systems in Asia (2020).

Kamal Vatta is professor and head of the Department of Economics and Sociology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India. Prior to this, he has served as a director, Centers for International Projects Trust, New Delhi.