This handbook critically examines the three concepts of exclusion, inequality and stigma and their interrelationship in the Indian context. Divided into five parts, the volume deals with the issues of exclusion, inequality, gender discrimination, health and disability, and assault and violence. It discusses important topical themes such as caste and social exclusion in rural labour markets, impact of poverty and unemployment, discrimination in education and literacy, income inequality and financial inclusion, social security of street vendors, women social entrepreneurs, rural-urban digital divide, workplace inequality, women trafficking, acid attacks, inter-caste marriages, honour killings, health care and sanitation, discrimination faced by those with disabilities, and regional disparities in India. The book traces rising socio-economic inequality and discrimination along with the severe lack of access to resources and opportunities, redressal instruments, legal provisions and implementation challenges, while also looking at deep-rooted causes responsible for their persistence in society. With emphasis on affirmative action, systemic mechanisms, and the role of state and citizens in bridging gaps, the volume presents several policies and strategies for development. It combines wide-ranging empirical case studies backed by relevant theoretical frameworks to map out a new agenda for research on socio-economic inequality in India with important implications for public policy. Comprehensive and first of its kind, this handbook will serve as a key reference to scholars, researchers and teachers of exclusion and discrimination studies, social justice, political economy, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, development studies, education and public administration. It will also be useful to policymakers, bureaucrats, civil society activists, non-governmental organisations and social entrepreneurs in the development sector, in addition to those interested in third world studies, developing economies and the global south.

Market failure at medium intervals is inevitable in a capitalist economy. Such failures may not be seriously seen in the short run because market adjusts demand through hoarding of inventory or import of required goods and services. The market also adjusts demand in the long run through expansion of concerned industrial output and also by the entry of new firms. The crucial variable is price which also adjusts the commodity and the labor market. The problem comes when there are issues of overproduction, over capacity utilization of plants, over liquidation and excess supply of money, change in demand because of change in tastes and habits of consumers, households and the public. All these create knife edge disturbances in the economy. As a consequence they need adjustment through some variables such as employment and growth of population, saving propensity, technology, exhaustion of existing inventory, monetary and fiscal balancing. In this volume an attempt has been made to appraise the working of a market economy where short term disturbances may occur, market efficiency reduces, recessionary cycle emerges and after certain fundamental measures the market recovers. Starting with a brief recent history of the crisis and the recession, discussions in this volume turn to how deliberations in macroeconomics yield implications for specific policies, some of which have been tried and others still to be tested. Further in the volume we propose policies necessary for efficient regulation of the economic system, and give a brief assessment of the extent to which global policy coordination has been mulled in policy circles even if these are not seriously practiced.

This handbook critically examines the three concepts of exclusion, inequality and stigma and their interrelationship in the Indian context. Divided into five parts, the volume deals with the issues of exclusion, inequality, gender discrimination, health and disability, and assault and violence. It discusses important topical themes such as caste and social exclusion in rural labour markets, impact of poverty and unemployment, discrimination in education and literacy, income inequality and financial inclusion, social security of street vendors, women social entrepreneurs, rural-urban digital divide, workplace inequality, women trafficking, acid attacks, inter-caste marriages, honour killings, health care and sanitation, discrimination faced by those with disabilities, and regional disparities in India. The book traces rising socio-economic inequality and discrimination along with the severe lack of access to resources and opportunities, redressal instruments, legal provisions and implementation challenges, while also looking at deep-rooted causes responsible for their persistence in society. With emphasis on affirmative action, systemic mechanisms, and the role of state and citizens in bridging gaps, the volume presents several policies and strategies for development. It combines wide-ranging empirical case studies backed by relevant theoretical frameworks to map out a new agenda for research on socio-economic inequality in India with important implications for public policy. Comprehensive and first of its kind, this handbook will serve as a key reference to scholars, researchers and teachers of exclusion and discrimination studies, social justice, political economy, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, development studies, education and public administration. It will also be useful to policymakers, bureaucrats, civil society activists, non-governmental organisations and social entrepreneurs in the development sector, in addition to those interested in third world studies, developing economies and the global south.

Market failure at medium intervals is inevitable in a capitalist economy. Such failures may not be seriously seen in the short run because market adjusts demand through hoarding of inventory or import of required goods and services. The market also adjusts demand in the long run through expansion of concerned industrial output and also by the entry of new firms. The crucial variable is price which also adjusts the commodity and the labor market. The problem comes when there are issues of overproduction, over capacity utilization of plants, over liquidation and excess supply of money, change in demand because of change in tastes and habits of consumers, households and the public. All these create knife edge disturbances in the economy. As a consequence they need adjustment through some variables such as employment and growth of population, saving propensity, technology, exhaustion of existing inventory, monetary and fiscal balancing. In this volume an attempt has been made to appraise the working of a market economy where short term disturbances may occur, market efficiency reduces, recessionary cycle emerges and after certain fundamental measures the market recovers. Starting with a brief recent history of the crisis and the recession, discussions in this volume turn to how deliberations in macroeconomics yield implications for specific policies, some of which have been tried and others still to be tested. Further in the volume we propose policies necessary for efficient regulation of the economic system, and give a brief assessment of the extent to which global policy coordination has been mulled in policy circles even if these are not seriously practiced.