China Research

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his governing, hindu-nationalist party BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP) is currently celebrating happy days after the strong victory in the regional elections in the 220-million people state of Uttar Pradesh. This overwhelming result was not really expected after the chaotic currency reform last fall when the government abruptly invalidated almost 90 percent of the circulating bank notes. This measure was taken in order to make people to deposit money visibly at the bank – and, consequently, to combat corruption and black money.

In other words, Modi benefited even from this monetary/institutional reform, expressed by substantial popularity gains. Hopefully, Modi uses his current strong personal ranking for accelerating economic reforms, particularly since his chances of winning the next general elections in 2019 seem to be increasing. So far, Modi’s (and his coalition partners’) reform record is not really convincing. Much more must be done to improve, for example, (youth) unemployment, education, infrastructure, the environment and productivity. At the same time, it is obvious that many Indians still have high expectations that Modi is the man to move their huge country forward.

For 2017 and 2018, a GDP-growth rate around 7 percent seems to be achievable (if major global distortions can be avoided). One should not forget that India’s international trade exposure should be less sensitive to American and global trade distortions than China’s. Indian GDP-growth seems to develop (somewhat) faster than the Chinese in the next few years. Such a comparison is, however, not quite fair since China started its accelerated modernization and restructuring process much earlier than India did.

But India has now an improving chance to catch up!

Hubert Fromlet
Affiliate Professor at the School of Business and Economics, Linnaeus University
Editorial board

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