Asia | Bureaucrats, not bridge-builders

Is India’s education system the root of its problems?

A recent comparison with China suggests that may be so

Photograph: Getty Images
|Singapore

For most of history the economies of India and China grew in lockstep. In 1970 the countries were almost identically wealthy. But today China’s GDP per person, at around $13,000, is nearly five times India’s. The chasm is traditionally explained by the way their economies opened up. China became the world’s factory, which turbocharged growth. India became its back office. But what shaped these paths?

Explore more

This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Bureaucrats, not bridge-builders”

From the November 30th 2024 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition
Indonesian protesters demonstrate against President Praboao's government

Prabowo Subianto is drastically cutting Indonesia’s budget

The cash saved is going into a new fund he controls

Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon

The election in Tajikistan is unlikely to be democratic

Instead it will be a way for Emomali Rahmon, the president, to cement his rule


Illustration of a person with long black hair and a peaceful expression splashes water on themselves. They wear gold jewelry, including bangles, rings, and necklaces, with pink-painted nails.

How overt religiosity became cool in India

The Maha Kumbh Mela shows how tradition has become trendy


The trouble with ancient Indians

India is rapidly ageing. It’s in for some surprises

Singapore’s leader of the opposition is convicted of lying

The city-state’s usually dull politics have taken a turn