A new-old approach

Survey skilfully marshals fresh arguments for timeless policy

In his first Economic Survey as India’s chief economic advisor, K V Subramanian has successfully infused a conservative and well-understood set of recommendations with a novel, and even indigenous, air. On the surface, there may appear to be nothing remarkable about suggestions that the government focus on private investment, and those on re-invigorating exports and administrative reform. Such a view would, however, miss the point. The Survey has given these policy directions a new freshness and embedded them in a view of recent economic successes in India that will be persuasive to political decision-makers. And, further, Dr Subramanian has chosen