Anthony P. D'Costa is an Honorary Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne. He has taught at the University of Washington, National University of Singapore, Copenhagen Business School, University of Melbourne, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He is widely published and has lectured on the political economy of development in India and industrialization, globalization, and economic development in East Asia. He has been a recipient of numerous fellowships, including Fulbright-Hays, American Institute of Indian Studies, Abe of the Japan Foundation, UNU-WIDER, Helsinki; Korea Foundation, and POSCO at the East West Center, Honolulu. Most recently, he edited The Oxford Handbook of the New Space Economy (2025).

India stands at a pivotal moment in its economic journey. As the nation grapples with transforming into a high-productivity, skill-driven economy, a fundamental question emerges: Will India successfully accelerate this transition, or will progress stagnate, leaving millions of young people trapped in fierce competition for scarce opportunities? Anthony D'Costa delivers an unflinching examination of the complex dynamics between business and state, exposing critical vulnerabilities while illuminating pathways toward prosperity. His analysis reveals how India could emerge as a high-income, more equitable society by 2047-the centennial of its independence-if it can navigate the challenges ahead.

Anthony P. D'Costa is an Honorary Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne. He has taught at the University of Washington, National University of Singapore, Copenhagen Business School, University of Melbourne, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He is widely published and has lectured on the political economy of development in India and industrialization, globalization, and economic development in East Asia. He has been a recipient of numerous fellowships, including Fulbright-Hays, American Institute of Indian Studies, Abe of the Japan Foundation, UNU-WIDER, Helsinki; Korea Foundation, and POSCO at the East West Center, Honolulu. Most recently, he edited The Oxford Handbook of the New Space Economy (2025).

India stands at a pivotal moment in its economic journey. As the nation grapples with transforming into a high-productivity, skill-driven economy, a fundamental question emerges: Will India successfully accelerate this transition, or will progress stagnate, leaving millions of young people trapped in fierce competition for scarce opportunities? Anthony D'Costa delivers an unflinching examination of the complex dynamics between business and state, exposing critical vulnerabilities while illuminating pathways toward prosperity. His analysis reveals how India could emerge as a high-income, more equitable society by 2047-the centennial of its independence-if it can navigate the challenges ahead.

Anthony P. D'Costa is an Honorary Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne. He has taught at the University of Washington, National University of Singapore, Copenhagen Business School, University of Melbourne, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He is widely published and has lectured on the political economy of development in India and industrialization, globalization, and economic development in East Asia. He has been a recipient of numerous fellowships, including Fulbright-Hays, American Institute of Indian Studies, Abe of the Japan Foundation, UNU-WIDER, Helsinki; Korea Foundation, and POSCO at the East West Center, Honolulu. Most recently, he edited The Oxford Handbook of the New Space Economy (2025).

India stands at a pivotal moment in its economic journey. As the nation grapples with transforming into a high-productivity, skill-driven economy, a fundamental question emerges: Will India successfully accelerate this transition, or will progress stagnate, leaving millions of young people trapped in fierce competition for scarce opportunities? Anthony D'Costa delivers an unflinching examination of the complex dynamics between business and state, exposing critical vulnerabilities while illuminating pathways toward prosperity. His analysis reveals how India could emerge as a high-income, more equitable society by 2047-the centennial of its independence-if it can navigate the challenges ahead.