Priyatosh Maitra – författare

The transformation and growth of capitalism in third world countries is examined by first looking at the beginnings and growth of capitalism in the developed industrialized world and at the various stages in which it is transplanted to less developed countries. This transplantation of capitalism brings about only the rapid growth of capital sector and not the complete capitalist transformation of a country. An interesting challenge of traditional views is made on population growth, demographic transitions, and technological transfers in economic development. Social welfare and economic planning are justified as inevitable conditions for the present phase of the spread of capitalism.

From a narrow technological and economic point of view, the industrial revolution is regarded as the process by which a society gains control of vast sources of energy and thereby experiences accelerated economic growth. However, such a definition has serious limitations as it does not do justice to this phenomenon either as regards the distinct origin of the phenomenon itself, or as regards its cultural, economic, social, and political implications. Also, it does not deal with the phenomenon of the growth of technology and industries in economies where agriculture and large human resources remain underdeveloped; in other words, it does not make any distinction between cases of industrial revolution and of imported industrialisation.Using the experiences of the industrial revolution and of imported industralisation during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, The Mainspring of Economic Development (originally published in 1980), presents a new approach in the analysis of the process and problems of economic development, and will be of value to all those concerned with economic and demographic history.

Originally published in 1988, this book considers some of the major social, economic and environmental questions raised by the role of new technology in development. Throughout the discussions of issues like the sustainability of the development effected by new technology is supported by detailed case studies from countries such as India, Australia, New Zealand, China, Bangladesh and South Africa.