This book provides a multidisciplinary analysis of the many socio-economic challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic across international boundaries, disrupting the economic system and life styles globally. It starts by setting the historical context of the pandemic and proceeds to describe the impact on the Indian economy, how certain sections of the population have become economically and psychologically vulnerable. International experts from diverse fields-development economics, macroeconomics, corporate finance, history, sociology, psychology, public policy, and urban studies-contribute to this exciting analysis of an Indian and global society at the crossroads. The book examines emerging themes related to global economic revival, intellectual property rights over the vaccine, and rupturing of the global supply chains. It discusses the response of institutions and markets to the global pandemic. It closes with a futuristic look at the new society and global system that may emerge out of the chaos. A valuable resource appealing to a wide readership across the social sciences and the humanities. Readers include undergraduate students, postgraduate students, researchers and academic teachers, and also public policy experts.

The book provides an interesting analysis of the time-use data to examine the extent to which active ageing is occurring in India. It also synthesizes data from the National Sample Survey Office All India Survey and another survey undertaken in Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, and Ranchi (capital cities of East Indian states) to examine the role of the aged in the Indian Society. Nearly all countries in the world are experiencing an important issue of ageing. India faces its own set of challenges with its aging population due to the absence of a social security system-the shifting family dynamics questions the contribution of the elderly to the family in every aspect. Econometric models have been used in the book to study gender differences and variations across socio-economic conditions, correlating them to the contribution of the aged to their families and the extent of active ageing. The book broadens the understanding on the aged and facilitates their integration in the society so that they can age more actively. Active Ageing and Labour Market Engagement offers an analytical perspective to professionals, researchers, and policy makers interested in gerontology.

This book analyses the reasons for relying on behavioural contraception methods among urban 'elites' in India and examines their efficacy in controlling fertility. It also traces variations in contraception choice over the reproductive cycle of women. Although researchers and policy makers generally equate reliance on behavioural contraceptive methods with low levels of education and awareness and lack of desire to control fertility, this perception has been questioned in recent years. The authors' analysis of the first three rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data in India reveals that behavioural contraceptive methods are popular in eastern India. Moreover, it is urban educated women who rely on behavioural methods, and are apparently able to regulate fertility quite effectively with such methods. NFHS data, however, has some limitations and this motivates the authors to explore birth control methods through primary surveys of currently married graduate women in Kolkata. The use of behavioural contraception methods is a little researched area globally and this is the first book focusing on the topic in India.

Based on a survey of women workers in Kolkata's IT sector, this book argues that growth of the IT sector has created a demand for skilled professionals. This has provided scope for highly educated urban women to create a space of self-expression and enjoy enhanced status and prestige within their families. These women workers carefully plan their career and daily activities, keeping in mind the need to balance diverse and conflicting needs of work and home. This kind of decision-making occurs outside the utilitarian framework and is better framed in terms of Herbert Simon's 'satisficing' approach, which takes into account the bounded rationality of agents. Written in lucid, non-technical language, the book will be an invaluable addition to existing works on gender and labour studies and will be of interest to social scientists undertaking research on gender, labour and the IT sector.

The book provides an interesting analysis of the time-use data to examine the extent to which active ageing is occurring in India. It also synthesizes data from the National Sample Survey Office All India Survey and another survey undertaken in Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, and Ranchi (capital cities of East Indian states) to examine the role of the aged in the Indian Society. Nearly all countries in the world are experiencing an important issue of ageing. India faces its own set of challenges with its aging population due to the absence of a social security system-the shifting family dynamics questions the contribution of the elderly to the family in every aspect. Econometric models have been used in the book to study gender differences and variations across socio-economic conditions, correlating them to the contribution of the aged to their families and the extent of active ageing. The book broadens the understanding on the aged and facilitates their integration in the society so that they can age more actively. Active Ageing and Labour Market Engagement offers an analytical perspective to professionals, researchers, and policy makers interested in gerontology.