Views of a Nepali Economist

First, Republica has my article on how we can learn from China and grow. The title is "Model Watch". The first two paragraphs:

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao’s Nepal visit on Saturday made quite a lot of headlines in the Nepali national dailies. The constant newspaper reporting and the “curfews” imposed in various roads in Kathmandu were reminders of how important and heavyweight the Chinese premier, and ergo China, is considered in this part of the world. This rise in China’s importance, not just in South Asia but also in the global arena, is because of its unprecedented economic growth: China is the second largest economy in the world and is expected to overtake the United States by 2020.

What has pushed China from poverty to the second largest economy in a span of few decades? The question merits some explanations if we are to learn any lessons from China’s rise. Most importantly, we need to learn to adopt and implement the economic policies and programs that like that of China for our own economic growth.

Second, The Kathmandu Post has my article on the state-society relationship in Nepal. The title is "Relaxing the noose". The first paragraph:

There is this notion amongst intellectuals in Nepal debating the state-society relationship that a stronger state negatively affects the strength of civic society. The notion comes out of years of experience in the form of oppression from the hands of strong states. This is especially true in Nepal since oppression and repression were commonplace during the Rana rule and the Panchayat system. However, a stronger state need not always imply a weaker civic society.

Labels: china, development, federalism, Kathmandu Post, poverty, Republica, SSR