Sunday, April 3, 2011

my studies materials

icroeconomics and Maths

Very Short(50 words)
  1. Define MRS in Indifference Curve Analysis.
  2. Briefly explain 'expansion path'.
  3. What is the 'shut-down point' of a firm ?
  4. How does the Ricardian theory of rent differ from the modern theory of rent ?
  5. What is the 'social welfare function' ?
  6. Explain the basic limitations of Leontief's input-output model.
  7. Explain the term "Production Possibility Frontier."
  8. What do you understand by Pareto Optimality ?
  9. What is "Peak-load pricing ?". Explain with examples.
  10. What is the meaning of "Economies of Scale ?"
  11. Briefly explain the term 'Corner Solution'.
  12. What is meant by '3rd degree price discrimination' ? Give example.
  13. What is Mark-up pricing ?
  14. What is meant by Consumer surplus ?
  15. Explain the term 'Dead Weight Loss'.
  16. How are relative prices of factors related to opportunity cost ?
  17. "Elasticity is a better measure of responsiveness than the slope of demand curve'. Explain with a suitable example.
  18. Why does a firm's Short run marginal cost curve eventually slopes up ?
  19. Derive the result that a firm will shut-down if p is less than AVC
  20. A firm making CD players finds that it can lower its average total costs if it also makes CD readers for computers. Is this an example of "Economies of Scale" or "Economies of Scope" ? Explain.
  21. Briefly explain the term 'Feasible Solution" in Linear Programming.
  22. Briefly explain (using diagram) weak axiom of revealed preference theory.
  23. Distinguish between linear production function and linear homogeneous production function.
  24. Economists admit that perfect competition is rare in the real world. If so, why do we have so much discussion of perfect competition in the literature ?
  25. Explain interdependence of sellers under oligopoly.
  26. 'A social welfare function is analogous to the individual consumers' utility function' - Explain.
  27. What are Giffen Goods ?
  28. Distinguish between Returns to a factor and Returns to Scale.
  29. Define Price Discrimination and discuss the conditions for it.
  30. Applications of Linear Programming in economics.
  31. Explain the point of 'constrained Bliss'.

Short(150 words)
  1. Distinguish between the income effect and substitution effect in indifference curve analysis. Show how they are related to the price effect.
  2. Explain briefly the Cobb-Douglas production function and its usefulness in economic analysis.
  3. Mention the problems of pricing of factors of production under imperfect competition.
  4. What is the dual problem in linear programming (LP) ? Explain how the variables in a dual are interpreted.
  5. Compare perfect competition and monopoly in respect of price, output and profit.
  6. What is "Marginal Productivity Theory of Distribution ?". What are its assumptions ?
  7. Enunciate the law of increasing returns and explain under which conditions law of increasing returns operate.
  8. "Engel Expenditure Curve relates expenditure on a good to income." Elaborate with help of figures.
  9. What is meant by "snob-effect ?" Is it correct to say that the snob-effect makes market demand less elastic ? Elucidate.
  10. Discuss the main features of Input-Output analysis.
  11. "Price Discrimination results in net loss to the monopolist when elasticity of demand is the same in different markets." Comment.
  12. Distinguish between the "slope" and "elasticity" of demand curve.
  13. 'Supply Curve concept is relevant only in case of perfect competition." Comment.
  14. Explain the significance of tangency between an iso-cost and iso-quant. Give Diagram.
  15. What is Sunk-cost ? Elaborate with appropriate example.
  16. Discuss briefly 'Kalecki's degree of monopoly theory'.
  17. What are 'Ridge lines' ? Illustrate with help of a diagram.
  18. Suppose you know that for firms in a perfectly competitive industry p=MC and p > ATC. Explain.
  19. Distinguish between homogeneous and non-homogeneous production functions with suitable examples.
  20. Distinguish between Consumer's surplus and Producer's surplus in perfect competition and monopolistic competition.
  21. Define the term "Iso-Cost" and "Iso-quant" and their relevance in the theory of firm.
  22. Explain the dual problem in linear programming. Explain your answer with suitable examples.
  23. Why is the price elasticity of demand of a compensated demand function less than that of the corresponding ordinary demand function in the case of a normal good ?
  24. Prove MC=AC at the minimum point of the latter.
  25. Using a diagram, explain the deadweight loss in a monopoly.
  26. What is compensation principle ? Explain 'Kaldor-Hick's' compensation principle.
  27. What is 'shadow price' ? How is it useful in linear programming analysis.
  28. What is Slutsky theorem ? Establish it with the help of revealed preference to demand analysis ?
  29. Explain and illustrate Law of variable proportions.
  30. Explain Kaldor-Hick's welfare criterion.

Long(500 words)
  1. Evaluate critically the revealed preference theory propounded by Prof. Samuelson. How is this theory superior to the indifference curve approach ?
  2. What are the characteristics of public utilities ? How is the price determined for public utilities ?
  3. Discuss the marginal productivity theory of distribution. Does it provide a satisfactory explanation for the determination of reward of a factor of production ?
  4. State and explain the necessary and sufficient conditions for pareto optimality.
  5. Private cost and social cost are two important concepts in microeconomic theory. Explain the two costs and point out the difference between them if any.
  6. Discuss Prof. Sen's "Social Choice" theory. In what way Sen departs from Arrow's Social choice concepts ?
  7. Explain the meaning and basic characteristics of linear programming with non-numerical examples.
  8. What is 'Peak-Load' pricing ? Explain how it is a form of price discrimination. Can it make consumers better off ?
  9. What is price discrimination ? Explain the conditions under which it is possible and profitable.
  10. Critically examine Pigou's 'Welfare Economics' Theory.
  11. Elucidate the statement - "Input-Output analysis is the name given to the attempt to take account of general equilibrium phenomenon in the empirical analysis of production." (Baumol). Also give the main assumptions of Input-Output analysis.
  12. What is discriminating monopoly ? Examine the equilibrium of the firm under discriminating monopoly.
  13. Examine the theories of Social Choice propounded by Prof. Sen and Arrow.
  14. Critically examine the marginal productivity theory of Distribution and its limitations.
  15. Explain clearly price rigidity under oligopoly, with the help of diagrams.
  16. Distinguish between partial and general equilibrium analysis. Write down the conditions for general equilibrium, assuming 2 person, 2 commodity, 2 factor framework of the economy. Give a brief interpretations of the conditions.
  17. Discuss the necessity of regulating large public utilities that are natural monopolies. Why cannot marginal cost pricing be adopted for such public utilities ? What can be a viable solution in such cases ?
  18. In Input-Output analysis, 'the correct output levels envisaged are those which satisfy technical input-output relationships rather than market equilibrium conditions' - Explain the statement highlighting important features of Input-Output analysis.
  19. What is the Price effect ? Show that it is a combination of the income and substitution effect.
  20. Explain Cobb-Douglas Production Function. Derive AP , MP , MRTS , Elasticity of Substitution , and Returns to scale for it.
  21. State and explain the Clark and Marshall-Hicks version of Marginal Productivity theory of Distribution. Critically evaluate it.
  22. Explain the conditions of pareto optimality. Elaborate Sen's critique.


Macroeconomics

Very Short(50 words)
  1. How is the multiplier different from super-multiplier ?
  2. State the important features of neo-classical monetary theory.
  3. What is Disposable Income ?
  4. Briefly explain the term "Phillips Curve."
  5. Define High-powered money.
  6. What is meant by 'lump-of-labor' hypothesis ?
  7. Can money multiplier be manipulated ?
  8. Discuss the Cambridge Equations of Quantity theory of Money.
  9. What is 'Ratchet Effect' ?
  10. Comment on the neutrality of money and elucidate the concept of money multiplier.
  11. Stagflation.
  12. What is value added approach ?
  13. Explain Inflationary gap.
  14. What is Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) ? How does it affect liquidity in the economy ?
  15. What is Financial Market meltdown ?

Short(150 words)
  1. Explain under what conditions does an economy happen to be in a state of 'under-employment equilibrium'.
  2. Distinguish between demand-pull and cost-push inflation.
  3. What is money multiplier and what are its determinants ?
  4. Compare 'V' of the Fischer version of the quantity theory of money with the 'K' of the Cambridge approach.
  5. Comment on the concept of 'Paradox of saving(thrift)'.
  6. Distinguish between Nominal and Real GNP.
  7. Using the IS , LM curves, analyze the effects of changes in monetary and fiscal policies on income.
  8. Explain the shape of short-run phillips curve. Does such a curve exist in the long run ?
  9. Explain the difference between GDP and GNP , and also between NDP and NDP at factor cost.
  10. Explain in brief the IS-LM model in a closed economy.
  11. Bring out the inter-relationship between different measures of National Income.
  12. What is foreign trade multiplier ? Indicate the factors affecting the size of the multiplier.
  13. Explain Milton Friedman's restatement of the Quantity theory of money.

Long(500 words)
  1. What are the different methods of measuring national income ? Bring out clearly the inter-relationship between these measures.
  2. Discuss the differences between the Fischer's and Cambridge version of quantity theory of money.
  3. Define the term "National Income". What problems normally arise at the time of estimating national income ?
  4. "Keynesian theory has both practical and theoretical importance even in today's economic world." Discuss.
  5. "Equilibrium level of national income or employment isn't always at the full employment level, rather we may have inflationary or deflationary gap.". Elaborate the statement.
  6. Explain Milton Friedman's restatement of the QTM.
  7. Critically examine the Permanent Income Hypothesis of consumption function.
  8. How does Life-cycle Hypothesis reconcile between short period non-proportionality and long period proportionality of consumption function ?
  9. Explain cash transactions and cash balances approaches of QTM and elucidate their relative merits.
  10. Discuss the relative effectiveness of Fiscal and monetary policies on income with the help of IS-LM model.
  11. Compare and contrast between cash transactions and cash balance approach.


Growth, Development, Planning, & Environment*

Very Short(50 words)
  1. Define Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM).
  2. What is meant by "capital deepening ?"
  3. Explain the components of Human Development Index (HDI).
  4. Define the Marxian concept of 'organic composition of capital'.
  5. Write short note on "Limits to Growth".
  6. Distinguish between Physical Quality of Life Index (PQLI) and Human Development Index (HDI).
  7. State the conditions for 'Take-off'.
  8. Write short note on IRR.
  9. What is the shadow price of capital ?
  10. What is the vicious circle of poverty ?
  11. Explain the concept of 'Golden Age'.
  12. What is Social Discount Factor ?
  13. What is the value of a constraint in its shadow price ?
  14. Compared to real income per capita, how far is the H.D. Index reliable as an indicator of socio-economic development ?
  15. State and briefly explain various stages in Rowstow's growth theory.
  16. Discuss the concept of sustainable development and explain its relevance.
  17. What is Lorenz curve ? Explain its uses.
  18. Write short note on "The Informal Sector".
  19. The Poverty Ratio.
  20. Shadow Prices.
  21. Define 'poverty line'. Indicate the economic variables affecting poverty line.
  22. Explain the 'balanced growth' concept of Nurkse.
  23. Explain Reverse Brain Drain.
  24. Write short note on "Decentralized Planning".
  25. Disguised Unemployment.
  26. Choice of techniques.
  27. Import substitution.
  28. Wage-goods approach.
  29. Gender Development Index (GDI)
  30. Montreal Protocol on CFC*
  31. Kyoto Protocol.*
  32. The Club of Rome Report.*
  33. Local Agenda 21 of UNCED.*
  34. Framework Convention on Climate Change.*
  35. UNEP.*
  36. Tradable Pollution Permits.
  37. Urban Agglomeration.
  38. Urban Unemployment.

Short(150 words)
  1. Examine the role of state in economic development in context of new economic policies.
  2. Define Lorenz Curve. Explain its uses in economic analysis.
  3. What is sustainable development ?
  4. What is environmental degradation ?
  5. Discuss the significance of Rio Declaration.*
  6. Elaborate Montreal Protocol on ozone depleting substances.*
  7. What are the causes and consequences of urban poverty ?
  8. What is benefit-cost analysis ?
  9. Discuss the rationale of planning in developing countries.
  10. What do you understand by 'Re-inventing the State' in the context of Globalization ?
  11. Distinguish development via excess capacity from development through scarcity.
  12. Define Gini Coefficient. Explain its use in economic analysis.
  13. What are the methods for controlling Environmental damage ?
  14. What are the major features (basic characteristics) of Todaro model of rural-urban migration ?
  15. Discuss the accounting for environmental degradation.
  16. What are the rationale for social-cost benefit analysis ?
  17. What is the role of state in a market oriented economy ?
  18. Explain Kuznets' inverted hypothesis and comment on the relationship between inequality and growth.
  19. Examine the need for a critical minimum effort to initiate the process of growth in a low-income economy.
  20. Explain how globalization is expected to contribute to global convergence.
  21. How can biological wealth and its depletion or accretion be a part of the GDP estimation ?
  22. Explain the role of insurance in economic development.
  23. Discuss the role of planning in the liberalized context.
  24. Explain the objectives of fiscal policy in a developing economy.
  25. Explain the technical progress function of Kaldor.
  26. Differentiate between Economic Development and Economic Growth.
  27. Critically examine the activities of MNCs in a developing country like India (in context of globalization) .
  28. How can environmental degradation be incorporated in national income accounting ?
  29. How can the moral hazard problem affect insurance adversely for economic development ?
  30. Discuss the 'double dividend' nature of certain environmental policies.
  31. Does globalization imply negation of the state in economic affairs ?
  32. Explain how Solow removes the knife-edge instability of the Harrod-Domar model in explaining growth process.
  33. Critically examine the dependency theory of under-development stating its salient features clearly.
  34. Do you think that the migration of knowledge-workers from India is a brain drain ? Explain.
  35. Do you agree with the view that the role of the state is declining in the liberalised economy of India ? Explain.
  36. Distinguish between Appraisal and Evaluation of Projects.
  37. Explain Schumpeter's concept of 'innovations' and its contemporary relevance.
  38. Examine the role of World Bank in tackling the poverty in the world.
  39. Do you think that environmental quality of a country is a function of its per capita income ? Give reasons.
  40. Bring out the important policy implications of Harris-Todaro model.
  41. Discuss the important problems involved in ranking the project proposals in order of their profitability.
  42. Examine the need of complementarity of monetary and fiscal policy in achieving stable growth.
  43. What do you understand by parallel economy ? What is its impact on economic growth ?
  44. Explain the factors in low capital formation in agriculture and its impact on rural development.
  45. Explain the impact of rural-urban migration on urban growth.

Long(500 words)
  1. State the Harrod-Domar growth model and explain the instability problem in it.
  2. Discuss the role of state in economic development. Is there a case for downsizing the government in developing economies ?
  3. State the instability problem in Harrod-Domar model and explain how the Neo-classical growth models attempt to resolve it.
  4. State the objectives of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Comment briefly on its relevance to the third world.
  5. Discuss the impact of international financial flows on the decentralized development in developing countries.
  6. Discuss the relative role of monetary and fiscal policies in the promotion of economic growth. Which one of the two is more relevant in developing countries ?
  7. Discuss the failure of market mechanism in providing socially desirable allocation of resources in developing countries. How far are the development plans successful in achieving both the social and economic objectives in these countries ?
  8. Explain why balanced and unbalanced approaches are regarded as two policies to address a common goal.
  9. Distinguish between urban formal and informal sectors and discuss the merits and demerits of informal urban labor market.
  10. What is cost-benefit Analysis ? Examine its important uses and drawbacks in plan formulation.
  11. "Inspite of all its drawbacks, the Marxian growth theory helps much in understanding the process and nature of growth." discuss.
  12. Discuss the problems of decentralized planning. How can the constraints of such planning be addressed successfully ?
  13. What has been the effect of globalization in labor in informal sector ? Has it contributed to the child labor problem ? Explain.
  14. What kind of monitoring and evaluation methods are needed for development planning in the context of liberalization ? Discuss.
  15. Define technical progress. Discuss comparatively the concepts of Neutral and non-neutral technical progress provided by Hicks, Harrod and Solow.
  16. Discuss the different steps in an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study of a hydro-electric project.
  17. Discuss and justify the rationale for the decentralized planning stated in India in recent years.
  18. Explain the methods of NPV and IRR as criteria for project selection, bringing out their relative advantages.
  19. In the context of liberalization-globalization policies being increasingly adopt world over, critically examine the role of the state in economic development of developing economies.
  20. Evaluate some of the international summit reports addressing trans-boundary environmental issues.
  21. Assess whether the Lewis Model fits into the institutional framework of India in the era of globalization.
  22. "Development is a process in which planning and discretion on the one hand and freedom of enterprise on the other, play their roles in a mutually complementary manner." Discuss the statement.
  23. Compare export promotion strategy vis-a-vis import substitution strategy in Indian economy.
  24. What is the role assigned to public sector enterprises in economic development of a country ? Critically examine the performance of public sector enterprises, with focus on central PSEs, in India.


International Economics

Very Short(50 words)
  1. BOP settlement and BOP Adjustment.
  2. Distinguish between Balance of trade and Balance of Payment.
  3. Purchasing power parity.
  4. Distinguish between 'international trade' and 'inter-regional trade'.
  5. How are foreign exchange reserves with the central bank classified in the BOP accounts ? Indicate the rationale behind such classification.
  6. What are Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) ? How are they allocated to member countries ?
  7. Discuss the role of World Bank in context of Developing countries.
  8. Explain the concept and uses of offer curves in the context of international trade.
  9. What is the capital account convertibility of rupee ?
  10. Explain the objectives of European Union.
  11. Define immiserising growth.
  12. What are exchange controls ?
  13. What are the 'Singapore issues' under WTO Negotiations ?
  14. Distinguish between SAPTA and SAFTA.
  15. What are multiple exchange rates ?
  16. What are the dynamic benefits from International trade ?
  17. What are the trade-creating and trade-diverting effects of a custom union ?
  18. Define Nominal exchange rate.
  19. Does 'SAARC' represent a regional economic integration ?

Short(150 words)
  1. State Rybezynski theorem briefly.
  2. What constitutes Globalization ? How far India has moved in the process ?
  3. What is Capital Account Convertibility ? What are the limitations for India to move towards it ?
  4. Distinguish portfolio Investment from F.D.I.
  5. Discuss the application of opportunity cost to the theory of international trade.
  6. How is the BOP disequilibrium corrected through income changes ?
  7. Explain the main concerns of Doha Round of Trade Negotiations for the Third World.
  8. What are the Euro-currency markets ?
  9. How would you account for the secular deterioration in the TOT of developing countries ?
  10. Explain how according to the classical theory , correction in the BOP disequilibrium is automatic.
  11. Distinguish between capital account convertibility and current account convertibility.
  12. Discuss the adverse economic consequences of freely floating exchange rates.
  13. Explain the Ricardian Theory of Comparative Cost.
  14. Discuss analytically the conditions under which devaluation of the currency of a country will improve the balance of payments position of the country.
  15. State Samuelson's Factor Price Equalization theorem and explain its economic significance.
  16. Discus the advantages of Floating exchange rate regime to a developing country like India.
  17. Indicate the potential economic advantages of India joining ASEAN.

Long(500 words)
  1. "The Heckscher-Ohlin theory does not invalidate the classical theory of comparative costs, but rather powerfully supplement it.". Elucidate this statement.
  2. How the BOP disequilibrium can be corrected by "Expenditure adjusting policies." ?
  3. 'The benefits of access to international financial flows are largely conditioned by the country's ability to deal with likely negative impacts.' Discuss.
  4. 'Commodity trade is a better substitute for International factor mobility.'(Samuelson) Elucidate.
  5. Why are tariffs considered superior to quantitative restrictions ?
  6. Discuss the impact of international financial flows on the decentralized development in developing countries.
  7. A country's exports use a country's abundant factor intensively." (Heckscher-Ohlin). Elucidate.
  8. Discuss the relative merits of fixed and flexible exchange rates to achieve internal and external balance.
  9. Explain the conditions necessary for maximizing gains from international trade. Give arguments in support of your answer.
  10. Analyze the significance of supply and demand elasticities influencing the TOT.
  11. How are developing economies like India being affected by WTO ?
  12. What is meant by automatic monetary adjustments ? How do they help to adjust BOP disequilibrium ?
  13. Discuss the salient features of world trade regime after the establishment of WTO. Give an idea of challenges it poses to the trade and development of a country like India.
  14. Examine how H-O theorem represents a superior theoretical construct over earlier theories. Explain the Stolper-Samuelson critique of the theorem.


Public Economics and Indian Public Finance

Very Short(50 words)
  1. State Finance Commission.
  2. Voluntary Disclosure scheme.
  3. Plan Grants.
  4. Service Tax.
  5. Deficit financing.
  6. Tragedy of the Commons.
  7. Index of Built-in-stabilization.
  8. Intangible Benefits
  9. Public Debt
  10. Benefit Principle of taxation.
  11. 'Ability to Pay' theory of taxation.
  12. Primary Deficit.
  13. The Laffer Curve.
  14. Public Goods.

Short(150 words)
  1. What is Outcome Budget ? What purpose does it serve ?
  2. Explain the objectives of fiscal policy in a developing economy.
  3. Define the (method) concept of 'deficit financing and discuss its relevance in a developing economy like India.
  4. Examine the items of non-developmental expenditure being ever-increasing in India.
  5. Explain the 'Alternative Scheme of Devolution' of the Xth Finance Commission. (2002)
  6. Account for the increasing revenue deficits of the GOI. (2002)
  7. What do you mean by parallel economy ? What is its impact on growth ?
  8. Critically examine the formula to share taxes by states according to Xth and XIth Finance Commissions. (2003)
  9. Explain Debt Swapping Scheme and its fiscal implications for the states. (2005)
  10. Discuss the criteria for inter-state distribution of Plan assistance.
  11. Explain the concept of Fiscal Deficit and its significance in our budgetary exercise.
  12. Explain the significance of Fiscal deficit. Also explain why it should be reduced to safe fiscal limit and yet not be brought to zero.
  13. Critically analyze the devolution of financial power through the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments.
  14. Review the major recommendations of XIIth Finance Commission. (2008)

Long(500 words)
  1. Distinguish between impact and the incidence of a tax. What are the general propositions of the incidence of a tax on a commodity or service based on elasticity ?
  2. What are the constituents of public debt ? How much of it is too much ?
  3. Discuss the various theories of taxation and suggest measures for enhancing the revenue raising capacity of the tax system in a developing country like India.
  4. Discuss the various theories of public expenditure. How could public expenditure be made more conducive during privatization at the global level ?
  5. Examine how far the fiscal imbalance experienced in the beginning of the 90s could be corrected since then with the New Fiscal Policy. (2007)
  6. What is the role of state finance commissions in India ? To what extent do they seem to be fulfilling the expected role ? (2007)
  7. Critically examine the criteria adopted by the various finance commissions in awarding fiscal resources to states from the angle of achieving horizontal equity. (2006)
  8. Critically evaluate the major recommendations of the XIIth Finance Commission in view of equalization of vertical and horizontal fiscal imbalance. (2005)
  9. Analyze the important recommendations of Raja J. Chellaieh Committee on taxation. Examine their impact on savings and tax revenue of the Union Government. (2005)
  10. Critically outline the recent measures to widen the income tax base. Do you feel that with widening base, tax evasion has declined ?
  11. Comment on the distribution of financial resources between the Centre and the states in India. Would you suggest any changes in it. (2002)
  12. Comment on the Fiscal reforms programmes for states in India. (2002)
  13. Enumerate the steps undertaken by the Central Government towards widening the income-tax base in India. (2002)
  14. Critically analyze the role of subsidies in development and the approach of central government on subsidies.
  15. "The 12th Finance commission has made significant recommendations on debt relief for states. However, single-minded pursuit of fiscal corrections to get the benefit of debt relief can have disastrous implications for states where social and economic infrastructure investment has been insufficient." - Analyze the statement. (2005)
  16. How do you justify the growing public debt in India in the light of India's development ?


Indian Financial System

Very Short(50 words)
  1. NABARD
  2. Lead Bank Scheme.
  3. NBFCs
  4. Micro-credit.
  5. Regional Rural Banks.
  6. Differential rate of interest.
  7. Composition of Money Market.
  8. Financial Market Meltdown.
  9. Commercial Banks in Money Market.

Short(150 words)
  1. Explain the structure of Indian Financial System.
  2. Discuss the effectiveness of monetary control measures.
  3. Discuss the relative merits of Selective Credit Controls as tools of monetary management.
  4. What is Cash reserve Ratio ? Assess its effectiveness as an instrument of credit control.
  5. Examine the role played by the regulating authorities in Banking and Insurance sector of the Indian economy.
  6. Discuss the recommendations of Narasimham Committee on banking Sector. (2006)
  7. Examine the changing role of RBI. (2008)
  8. Examine the non-banking source of Industrial Financing in India. (2008)

Long(500 words)
  1. Make an appraisal of the current monetary policy of the RBI.
  2. Discuss the structure of the financial market and highlight the role of intermediaries in the money market and the capital market.
  3. Discuss the role of the financial sector in a developing economy. What are the major causes of recent moves towards liberalization ?
  4. How is the economy of a country affected by the operation of the stock exchange ? How far has SEBI in India succeeded in controlling and improving the stock exchange transactions ?
  5. Critically review the role and strategies of Mutual Funds in capital Market.
  6. How do the fluctuations in the stock exchange market affect the stability of the economy ? Critically analyze the policies followed by the GOI in this respect.
  7. Do the non-banking financial intermediaries provide close substitute for money ? Should their operations be regulated by policy interventions ?


Indian Economy

Very Short(50 words)
  1. Agreement on Agriculture (AOA)
  2. Parallel economy in India.
  3. Informal Sector.
  4. Minimum support Price (MSP).
  5. Urban Unemployment.
  6. 'Most Favored Nations' for importing goods.
  7. National Rural Health Commission.
  8. Planning commission.
  9. Antyodaya Anna Yojana
  10. Kisan Credit Cards.
  11. Pension Reforms.
  12. Disinvestment.
  13. FRBM act.
  14. Contract farming.
  15. Primary farming.
  16. BOP settlement and BOP Adjustment.
  17. Balance of trade and Balance of Payment.
  18. Industrial Relations.
  19. Multinational Corporations.

Short(150 words)
  1. Explain the basis of estimating the Poverty Ratio by the planning commission, and point out it limitations.
  2. Explain the salient features of New Economic Policy. (2002)
  3. Comment on the problem of uneducated employment in India. (2002)
  4. Comment on the Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY). (2002)
  5. Account for the factors responsible for the industrial slowdown in India during the past few years. (2002)
  6. Outline the salient features of trade policy reforms in India during the last decade. (2002)
  7. Critically examine the recent energy crisis in India. (2003)
  8. How far India has opened up to the global economy ? (2003)
  9. Explain the factors in low capital formation in Agriculture and its impact on rural development. (2003)
  10. Explain the magnitude of educated unemployment in India and suggest measures to alleviate it. (2003)
  11. Critically examine the impact of globalization on small-scale industries. (2003)
  12. Evaluate National Rural Employment generation scheme. (2005)
  13. Give your comments on the Bharat Nirman. (2005)
  14. Explain the reasons for rural-urban migration and migrant characteristics in India. (2005)
  15. Make an analysis of Industrial unemployment in India. (2005)
  16. Explain the recent changes in the composition of exports in the post reform period. (2005)
  17. Give an account of the subsidies of the government for agriculture development with special reference to a).fertilizer b). power supply. (2005)
  18. Write a note on Rural Infrastructure Development Fund. (2006)
  19. Explain the FDI issues in India since 1991. (2006)
  20. Analyze the post-reform changes in the composition of imports. (2006)
  21. Evaluate Targeted PDS. (2007)
  22. Make an analysis of poverty situation in India. (2007)
  23. Write a short note on the FDI in India. (2007)
  24. Explain the role of Black Money in India. (2007)
  25. What do you understand by the trade in services ? Explain how India has been faring in the recent past. (2007)
  26. What do you understand by the inclusive growth ? What are the important features of the inclusive growth as laid down in the XIth Plan Approach paper ? (2007)
  27. Explain the causes and effects of structural unemployment during the plan period. (2008)
  28. Give an account of the labor-sector reforms since 1991. (2008)

Long(500 words)
  1. Bring out specific agreement made with WTO in agriculture, industry, and trade sectors of the economy. (2008)
  2. Compare export promotion strategy vis-a-vis import substitution strategy in the Indian economy. (2008)
  3. Discuss the implications of globalization for the Indian economy with special reference to the agriculture sector. (2008)
  4. Critically examine the current foreign trade policy of India. (2008)
  5. Comment on the Agrarian structure of the country. To what extent do you agree with the statement that "lock of pressure from below and absence of will from above have led to the failure of land reforms ?" (2008)
  6. Critically examine the performance of PSEs, with focus on central PSEs, in India. (2007)
  7. Discuss the implications of declining contribution of agriculture in GDP in view of accelerating overall growth and relative stagnancy of work force composition. (2007)
  8. Discuss the emerging foreign trade matrix in terms of composition and direction of export and import. What is its significance in the Indian economy ? (2007)
  9. Discuss the trends of growth and poverty across states. What are the implications for inter-state and rural-urban disparity ? What suggestions would you like to give to improve the situation ? (2007)
  10. Discuss the important reasons for Disinvestment and analyze the issues involved in the disinvestment program. (2006)
  11. Explain various kinds of unemployment and give an account of important employment generation programs of the union government. (2006)
  12. Critically analyze the structural reforms undertaken by the Central Government since 1991. (2006)
  13. Explain the reasons and estimates of black money in India and also analyze its effects on the economy. Suggest measures to reduce it. (2006)
  14. Explain the importance and the provisions of the 73rd constitutional amendment and critically analyze whether the goal of decentralized governance is realized. (2005)
  15. Examine various measures of poverty. Evaluate poverty eradication programs undertaken by the Union government. (2005)
  16. Critically examine the important features of foreign trade policy 2004-09. Examine whether it would achieve its objective. (2005)
  17. Critically examine the relevance and impact of recent poverty alleviation programmes. (2003)
  18. Distinguish between demand management policies from structural policies. Examine their impact on macro-stabilization in India. (2003)
  19. In what way rural-urban migration leads to growing urban unemployment ? Mention some of the employment generation programmes to alleviate urban unemployment. (2003)
  20. What is FDI ? Critically examine the recent FDI policy and its impact on technology up-gradation in Indian Industry. (2003)
  21. Analyze the major causes of industrial disputes in India. Outline the machinery for settlement and prevention of industrial disputes. (2002)
  22. Give a critical appraisal of the flow of Institutional credit for agriculture in India. (2002)


Statistics and Econometrics

Very Short(50 words)
  1. Indicate the sources of non-sampling errors.
  2. Explain the regression lines.
  3. Define Chi-Square distribution.
  4. Define Stratified Random Sampling.
  5. Define Log-normal Distribution.
  6. What is coefficient of variation ?

Short(150 words)
  1. Define Pearson's coefficient of correlation. Interpret the result when r=1 ,-1 or 0.
  2. Compare census and sample enquiry.
  3. What is 'Null Hypothesis' ? Explain 'Type-I' and 'Type-II' errors in the context of hypothesis testing.
  4. What are the uses of Index Numbers ? Distinguish between Laspeyres and Paasche's index numbers.

Long(500 words)
  1. Explain the method of fitting a straight line trend using the least square method.
  2. Define Fischer ideal index number. Explain why it is called an ideal index.
  3. Define time-series analysis. Discuss the use of time-series and cross-sectional studies in economic analysis.
  4. Examine the role of time-series analysis in business forecasting.
  5. Explain various methods of undertaking samples for conducting economic surveys. How sampling enquiries are superior to census enquiries ? Explain.
  6. Define ANOVA , stating the underlying assumptions. How do you test the equality of several 'normal population' means using ANOVA ?