A Time Magazine Author Explains Why

Newsreel Asia Insight #202
April 25, 2024

There’s a significant disconnect between the official narrative about India’s economic growth and the underlying reality. The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) spokeswoman Julie Kozack has clarified that the views of Krishnamurthy Subramanian, India’s representative at the IMF, do not represent the IMF’s stance. The clarification followed Subramanian’s forecast of 8% growth for India, contradicting the IMF’s official projection of 6.5%.

Subramanian, previously an economic adviser to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressed dissatisfaction with the IMF’s predictions, criticising them as “consistently inaccurate,” notes a feature published by Time, remarking that his reaction underscores the pressure within the Indian government to project a robust economic narrative, as it’s crucial to the government’s legitimacy and Modi’s political persona.

While India’s economic growth seems promising on the surface, deeper examination reveals concerning trends, the feature points out, explaining that key indicators, such as foreign direct investment (or FDI – down by 55% to $9.69 billion in Apr-Dec 2023), private sector investment and consumer spending, are sluggish.

The decline in FDI indicates a reduced level of international confidence in India’s business environment. The sluggishness of private sector investment can stem from multiple factors, including uncertainty in economic policies, high interest rates or weak domestic demand. And when people spend less on goods and services, it often signals decreased consumer confidence and purchasing power. This downturn in spending can slow overall economic growth, as consumer demand is a key driver of the economy.

Furthermore, issues like unemployment and manufacturing decline suggest that the reality of India’s economic situation is less rosy than presented, says the author.

There are also concerns about “data manipulation,” the author adds. Before the 2019 parliamentary elections, the government suppressed employment data because it revealed a 45-year-high unemployment rate, causing members of the National Statistical Commission to resign, the author explains, adding that a key five-yearly consumer survey was withheld that year due to “data quality issues.” When it was finally released in February, it indicated that poverty and inequality had decreased while consumer spending had tripled over a decade.

These findings conflict with the government’s own reports and other independent data sources.

Additionally, significant income inequality and low household savings indicate a disparity in wealth distribution and overall economic stress, according to the feature.

A high level of income inequality suggests that wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few, leading to a divide between the rich and the poor. This gap can limit social mobility and create an economy where a small segment thrives while the majority struggles.

When income inequality is high, economic benefits tend to accrue disproportionately to the wealthy, who often have different spending and investment patterns compared to the broader population. This imbalance can stifle broader economic growth and reduce consumer demand, as most people have less disposable income.

These factors, the author concludes, challenge the government’s economic success narrative, suggesting that India’s growth story might be more about perception management than substantial transformation.