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Published by Liberty Institute
In this occasional paper, Chakraverti argues in favour of policies to make the car more affordable for all Indian citizens. This will spark off a chain reaction of reforms in the Indian context by improving connectivity. Infrastructure and market access would no longer be a hindrance. This in effect will provide every individual the freedom to engage in economic activities. Hence, this paper supports personal mobility of individuals for their progress and the progress of the country.
; "Annual Report 2007")
Special Indian Edition including Preface by Kamal Nath, Union Minister of Commerce
This report is brought out together with the partner, the Centre for Civil Society and published by Academic Foundation.
The global release of the report of Economic Freedom of the World was held on 4th September 2007 in New-Delhi by Commerce and Industry Minister, Shri Kamal Nath. This Indian edition of the World report also includes a preface by the Minister.
The Economic Freedom of the World, was begun by Nobel-Prize winning economist Milton Friedman and measures economic freedom index of countries in five areas:
; "The Essential Frédéric Bastiat")
This publication is a collection of essays by Bastiat himself which have been presented in a simple style for the benefit of the readers. The essays are a treat in simplicity and clarity and offer a striking contrast to the writings of his contemporary Karl Marx as well as to the techno-economic expositions of modern-day economists.
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A joint effort of the Indian Liberal Group and the Project for Economic Education, this is the third such budget in as many years.
The five chapter-40 page document provides an assessment of economic reforms in the last fifteen years; a retrospect on the Central Budget 2005-06; the strategy of LB3; an analysis of the Central Government?s expenditure; and the need for reforms in Tax Policy and Tax Administration.
Published by Indian Liberal Group
For more information contact:
National Headquarters,
Sassoon Building, 1st Floor,
143 Mahatma Gandhi Road,
Mumbai 400 001.
Telefax: 0091 (22) 2284 3416
Email: freedom@vsnl.com
Website : www.liberalsindia.com
; "People's Forum")
By Dr. P. D. Kaushik and Subodh Kumar
People?s Forum is a joint initiative of the Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung. The Forum was started in January 2003 and has been a monthly event since than.
People?s Forum is a programme especially created to enhance and promote "Active Citizenship" which is the underlying principle of a democratic state. Two Publications encompass all the issues that have been taken up from 2003 to end of 2007 showcasing the galaxy of personalities who have been part of the programme. It also highlights the achievements of the programme.
Published by RGICS & FNF
For more information contact the FNF New Delhi office.
; "Year 2007")
By Dr. P. D. Kaushik, RGICS
There are more than a million laws, regulations, gazette notifications and government orders in India, which restrict the economic freedom of business and citizens alike. The argument is that excessive regulations stifle entrepreneurship thereby promoting ?the other path?. When the compliance cost is too high, individuals and businesses prefer to function illegally. This book is showcasing regulations in Delhi, which are antiquated and cumbersome. Besides, the rules entrust wide discretionary powers with government functionaries, which paves way for rent-seeking and arbitrary decisions. This book presents select rules which impinge on industry, business, agriculture, services, land and citizens. This book makes a strong case in favour of regulatory reforms, which is the need of the hour. As such, this book should be of interest to all those interested in policy formulation in India, and researchers and students.
Published by Bookwell
For further inquiries contact the FNF New Delhi office.
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Mumbai Citizens? Handbook 2006 is a compilation of studies of various services provided by the government.
This aim of this Handbook is to offer to Citizens a blend of comprehensive information and an insightful look at the core issues plaguing the functioning of the government departments and agencies providing these services. The book includes short-term and long-term policy recommendations, which acted as the seed for a constructive debate between civil society institutions, politicians and bureaucrats.
Published by Praja and Centre for Civil Society
The First National Consultation on International Criminal Court (ICC) and India was held in New Delhi on 8-9 December 2005.
The objectives of the consultation were to take stock of international developments related to the ICC, develop an insight into ICC and its ramifications for India, to forge links with like-minded individuals and groups working on the issue of impunity and to collectively strengthen the ICC-India campaign. This event was timed to coincide with the visit of Judge Philippe Kirsch, President of ICC, to Delhi, in order that he could address the participants at the consultation. This two days consultation was attended by more than 70 participants consisting of lawyers, human rights activists, academicians, researchers, media persons and representative of non-governmental organisations.
The report presents the highlights of the consultation with a focus on the presentations made by resource persons and the discussions that followed each presentation.
Published by People’s Watch – Tamil Nadu and the Women’s Research & Action Group
For more information contact: wrag@vsnl.com
"Autonomy and the Tibetan Perspective" is one more book in support of Tibet's objective of promoting awareness on the concept of Autonomy.
The publication studies a few select models world-wide where the concept of autonomy has been put into practice. It also studies the history of autonomy policy in China, as well as China's position on Tibetan autonomy. It also details out the Tibetan position on Autonomy - the Middle Way Approach of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet and finally gives an overview of the status of the current Sino-Tibet Dialogue. You may download the publication.
For procuring hard copies of this publication you may get in touch with our project partner:
Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre (TPPRC)
Mr. Penpa Tsering, Executive Director
E-mail: tpprc@airtelbroadband.in
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By Bibek Debroy, Laveesh Bhandari & V.N. Saroja
There are many problems related to land markets in India. This paper highlights one aspect of land transactions where ownership is defined in an extra-legal sense.
It is based on two notions. One, a general social acceptance that a particular person has a right to use the property; and two, the possibility that in due course the general acceptance will be converted into a legal acceptance.
But there are real impacts of this fuzziness in ownership. First, there is the negative impact of uncertainty over ownership in utility terms. Second, there is the negative impact on the possibility of land improvements by the fuzzy owners. Third is the impact on the potential for using land and property as capital.
The government?s own resettlement and neighbourhood improvement programs have an important bearing on the above. By recognizing and regularizing such informal property rights the government can overhaul the use of property by the poor.
Consider the aspects related to what we call fuzzy ownership or fuzzy property rights. The fact that there is uncertainty over duration of tenure and the duration of land rights has a negative impact in many ways. Note that such fuzzy property rights are bought and sold, but the property prices in such areas tend to be lower. Once uncertainty is removed property prices will increase benefiting both the owners and the government (if it decides to levy value based property taxes). For the government the issue is of acceptance of property rights that are already accepted by those living and working in these areas. Another aspect is that of property as capital. An important aspect of this property is that, it is sold and bought, loans are given for it, and property improvements do take place despite the fact that property rights have not been allocated in a legal manner.
This paper therefore proposes to add another dimension to the work of De-Soto. Fuzzy property rights provide the same set of benefits as formal property rights, only that the benefits are lower. The implications for policy will also be discussed briefly.
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By Debroy, Bibek; Bhandari, Laveesh
This study deals with the measurement of economic freedom in different states of India. According to Milton Friedman, economic freedom is one part of the concept of 'human freedom'- which is a mix of economic, social and political freedom. This study is limited to measuring economic freedom. While 'economic freedom' is difficult to quantify, such an exercise is easier than concepts of social and political freedom that are more abstract. The term economic freedom has many connotations. Different studies and measures of economic freedom use different definitions of economic freedom.
The Index of Economic Freedom (Heritage Foundation, 2002) defines economic freedom as "the absence of government coercion or constraint on the production, distribution, or consumption of goods and services beyond the extent necessary for citizens to protect and maintain liberty itself'. This Economic Freedom Index for India accepts this definition of freedom, but carries it a little further. While identifying that the government should not interfere in the working of the market, it further requires that the government should fulfil its duty of protecting life and property, and enforcing legal contracts and law. This study is more on the lines of the Economic Freedom of the World The Fraser Institute, Vancouver, Canada.).
For more information contact:
Raijv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies
Jawahar Bhawan
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road
New Delhi - 110 001, India
Tel. +91 11 23755117 or 23312458
Fax +91 11 23755119
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The Tibetan community in exile is arguably one of the most reliant and successful refugee groups in the world. For centuries, a people who had lived in seclusion, suddenly found themselves having to cope not only with the modern world, but also with the fact of exile. Yet, Tibetans the world over have proved themselves equal to this challenge, and have achieved a fully literate society, economic stability and a democratic government. Much of this has been possible because of commitment to these changes by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, temporal and spiritual head of the Tibetans.
This book is an attempt to document the lives of members of the exiled Tibetan community in India and elsewhere. It thus aims to fill a gap in our understanding - there have been few serious studies of the Tibetan diaspora.
A revised and enlarged translation of the German publication (Tibet im Exil), this book focuses on two main themes: how Tibetans in exile preserve their culture, and how the community prepares itself for the return to Tibet. This is done through a series of interrelated papers that include chapters which trace the history of Tibet, analyse the legal issues involved in the dispute over her territory and sovereignty, document the reforms and changes introduced at social and political levels, and also an interview with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Price of one copy: Rs 450.00
For more information contact:
Orient Longman
3-6-752 Himayatnagar
Hyderabad 500 029. A.P
India
Tel.: 040 2766 5446
Fax: 040 2764 5046
or email to orlongco@hd2.dot.net.in
