Paradigms in Development Theory-Plea for Labour-ist Approach

Plea for 'Labour-ist' Approach Krishna Bharadwaj Arguing that the commodity-centred approach to the study of economic development lost sight of the tremendous changes taking place in the economic and social conditions of labour, this paper makes a case for the analytical reconstruction of the macro dynamics of development, taking the clue from the political economy of Adam Smith and Marx, both of whom used the 'labour-ist' approach to analyse capitalist accumulation, advance of productive forces, expanding commerce and changing social relations. In this context, certain striking features of the Indian developmental experience, which should find a reflection in analytical exercises, are taken note of.