[lbo-talk] Re: Kerala and Cuba

[Michael McIntyre]

Ulhas, I know the differences between Kerala and West Bengal very well. 
As Atul Kohli points out, West Bengal has its own kinds of success - not
the same as Kerala's - that are not to be dismissed.  But this contrast
between Kerala and West Bengal is precisely why I called Left rule in
Kerala a NECESSARY but not a SUFFICIENT condition for remarkable HDI
gains.  You're heading toward Brad de Long's
I-can't-be-bothered-to-follow-the-argument-before-I-type-the-putdown
territory.

Michael McIntyre:


> There's some debate about why Kerala has such better HDI indicators
than
> the rest of India, but a review of the historical trends makes it
clear
> that the divergence didn't begin until the early 1970s, the same time
> that Communist (or, more precisely, "Left Front") governments began to
> win roughly every other state election.  So, periodic rule by the Left
> in Kerala seems to be, if not a sufficient condition, at least a
> necessary condition of the progress that has been made.

The CPs have ruled Kerala (pop.40 mn.) intermittently. (The elections in
Kerala are closely fought affairs between CPs and the Congress party. 2%
swing in votes is enough to decide the results.) But CPs have ruled West
Bengal (pop. 80 mn.) continuosly for 25 years (1977-2002).West Bengal
does
not have the same HDI indicators. e.g. Literacy in West bengal is
65-70%.

Ulhas