Inclusive Growth

Last Updated: May 2023 (Inclusive Growth)

Inclusive Growth

This article deals with ‘Inclusive Growth.’ This article is part of our series on ‘Economics’ which is an important pillar of the GS-3. For more articles, you can click here.


What is Inclusive Growth?

According to United Nations Development Program (UNDP), ‘Inclusive Growth is a process and outcome where all groups have participated in the organization of growth and benefited equitably.

Inclusive Growth

Inclusive Growth is a very broad concept and includes the following aspects

Social Dimensions Affordable Education
Quality Healthcare
Social Equality
Gender Parity
Regional Parity
Women Empowerment
Economic Dimensions Financial Inclusion
Quality Employment
Resilience to external shocks
Agricultural development
Political Dimensions Long term planning
Transparent and efficient governance
Safety to people
Zero corruption
Environmental Dimensions Sustainable Development
Reduction of waste
Inclusion of the needs of the future generation

Side Topic: Pro-Poor Growth

If the growth can bring more people out of poverty and raise people’s standard of living, it is termed as Pro-Poor Growth.

Pro-Poor Growth is a narrow concept than Inclusive Growth  

  • In Inclusive growth, we make sure that people at the bottom of the pyramid are not mere recipients of the benefit. 
  • We can achieve pro-poor growth via the Trickle Down Effect, where benefits provided to those at the top of the pyramid trickle down. But in Inclusive Growth, those at the bottom are also part of growth and aren’t just recipients of the benefits of growth. 

Side Topic: Trickle Down

  • It is a ‘Top-to-bottom approach’ to Economic Development.
  • The proponents of this approach argue that the benefits of growth would automatically trickle down to the bottom.
  • In this approach, Tax Breaks and other economic benefits are provided by the government to businesses. It is believed that these benefits provided to the businesses will ultimately benefit poor members of society as it will lead to more investments and higher job creation in the economy. 
Trickle Down
  • Evidence from around the world is that the economic policy paradigm of first increasing the overall size of the pie by reducing taxes at the top and then “redistributing” the wealth has not delivered benefits to people at the bottom of the pyramid. Tax cuts to the businesses and wealthy ultimately lead to a flight of wealth to the tax havens and greater inequalities.

Ways to ensure it

Enhancing human capability by providing

  1. Education
  2. Health facilities
  3. Skill development
  4. Equal opportunities to all
  5. Women empowerment

Employment generation: It can be created via

  1. Attracting investment in India
  2. Promoting entrepreneurship via schemes like StartUp India
  3. Focusing on labor-intensive sectors (like textile)

The target of the policies of the Indian government isn’t just faster growth but also inclusive growth. Following schemes are aimed at achieving it

  1. Poverty Reduction (through programs like MNREGA)
  2. Employment Generation (Make in India, Atma Nirbhar Campaign etc.)
  3. Access to essential services (PDS, Ayushman Bharat and RTE) 
  4. Equality of opportunity 
  5. Skill-building (Skill India Mission) 
  6. Good governance (Governance Reforms, RTI etc.)
  7. Women empowerment 

Question

  1. Can we achieve Inclusive growth through capitalism?