Globalization and Labour Reforms: The Politics of Interest Groups and Partisan Governments [Hardcover]

This book analyses labour market reforms in India under conditions of globalization. Through a study of subnational variations in labour markets, the book emphasizes on the continued relevance of politics in shaping public policy, despite the structural-institutional constraints attributed to globalization and policy convergence. It shows that the role of partisan governments, dynamics of interest group negotiations, and party competition in the states can largely influence public policy decisions for domestic socio-economic interests.Globalization, as commonly understood, limits policy choices of a nation by creating structural-institutional constraints. This leads to an important question: are political actors still relevant in shaping policy in the interest of domestic socio-economic concerns? This book draws attention to the continuing relevance of local politics in influencing public policy, through a study of labour market reforms.Labour, unlike other factors of production, is not only a resource but also an important social group capable of political manifestation. Drawing on evidence from states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal, this book shows that despite pressures of policy convergence, labour reforms vary across states, depending on partisan governments, dynamics of interest group negotiations, and party competition. Using both qualitative and quantitative evidence, the book argues that who governs matters for how globalization unfolds in any society and that public policies continue to be nuanced, if not shaped, by politics.AcknowledgementsIntroduction: Globalization and Policy ReformChapter 1: Globalization, Policy Reform, and the Labour MarketChapter 2: Locating the Politics of Reform: Labour Market in Indian StatesChapter 3: Political Economy and Partisan Government: Configuration of Labour ReformChapter 4: Partisan Government and Interest GroupsChapter 5: Party System: Partisanship, Interest Groups, and PoliticsChapter 6: Cls±