With contributions from past and present collaborators, this book celebrates the contributions of Kaushik Basu to development economics. It reflects on the issues of rent control, child labour, labour laws, harrassment, shared prosperity, and gender empowerment in the broader context of interactions between markets, governments, and institutions.

'. . . this volume is an excellent resource for those interested in the analysis of institutions' design and economic development. . .' - Oscar Alfranca, Progress in Development Studies The main theme of this study is the political economy of policy reform in less developed countries and post-socialist countries. Given the complexity of economic development and transition, Joachim Ahrens views failures in policy reform, poor public sector management, rent-seeking, corruption, and over-centralization as systematic, though not exclusive, instances of institutional failure.

"The essential role institutions play in understanding economic development has long been recognised and has been closely studied across the social sciences but some of the most high profile work has been done by economists many of whom are included in this collection covering a wide range of topics including the relationship between institutions and growth, educational systems, the role of the media and the intersection between traditional systems of patronage and political institutions. Each chapter covers the frontier research in its area and points to new areas of research and is the product of extensive workshopping and editing. The editors have also written an excellent introduction which brings together the key themes of the handbook. The list of contributors is stellar (Steven Durlauf, Throsten Beck, Bob Allen,and includes a diverse mix of Western and non Western, male and female scholars)"

On development economics theories in India.

This book draws on the analytical framework of New Institutional Economics (NIE) to critically examine the role which law and the legal system play in economic development. Analytical concepts from NIE are used to assess policies which have been supported by multilateral development organisations including securing private property rights, reform of the legal system and financial development. The importance of culture in shaping the legal environment, which in turn influences financial sector development, is also assessed using Oliver Williamson’s ‘levels of social analysis’ framework.

'Characterizing and understanding why and how economic actors exchange goods and services is undoubtedly one of the most important concerns of economics. Cornelisse and Thorbecke provide us with a framework to better understand the bewildering diversity of forms of exchange according to items transacted, actors involved, and environments where exchanges occur. This is done by developing the novel concept of exchange configurations. This relatively simple lens makes for a fascinating re-interpretation of the long and complex process of economic development.' Alain de Janvry, University of California at Berkeley, US 'The authors of this volume are spot on when they note that "the perspective alters drastically when it is realized that economic exchange as it occurs in the real world is a laborious and costly process with uncertain and imperfect outcomes". We all have a lot to learn from this highly original, thought provoking contribution to our understanding of the very core of economic and development thinking.' Finn Tarp, United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research, Finland and University of Copenhagen, Denmark This innovative and important book develops a new framework for analysing exchange that takes place within and outside markets over the course of development. The authors argue that development and social and economic progress are greatly enhanced by a fluent and efficient exchange system. Conversely, the process of development encourages and facilitates trade. The authors introduce the concept of exchange configurations to capture the multiplicity of settings within which exchange occurs and the many different forms exchange and transactions can take. The book shows how exchange configurations can help to identify the factors that constrain the exchange process and lead to the formulation of effective reforms. It then uses a historical analysis of systems of exchange during different phases of development over the last two millennia to illustrate different exchange configurations. Exchange and Development will appeal to students at both the graduate and undergraduate level in the fields of economic development, international trade, microeconomics, institutional economics and economic history. Researchers in universities and policy makers in governments and international agencies will also draw much benefit from the entirely novel approach formulated in this book.