Informal Sector, Migration, and the Beginnings of Structural Transformation: Evidence from India’s Recent Economic History

This book explores the role of the informal sector at the beginning of the structural transformation of the Indian economy. It highlights the dynamic nature of the informal sector and the crucial role that it played in that transformation. The growth of the informal sector is analysed alongside the decline in agriculture and the growth of industry. Issues such as unemployment, wages, rural-to-rural migration, in addition to rural-to-urban migration, are discussed. The book also considers the role of social

factors, including those relating to caste and tribe, in migration decisions. It also highlights the links between migration, the informal sector, and economic growth that are also relevant to other developing countries. This book will be of interest to students and researchers in development economics, development studies, and economic history.

Prabir Bhattacharya is an economist affiliated to both Glasgow and Heriot-Watt Universities. He is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Interdisciplinary Economics and was formerly editor-in-chief of the Progress in Development Studies. He has taught at various universities including the University College London, University of Edinburgh, Yokohama National University, Kobe University and the University of Science and Technology Beijing.