Essays in economics and other cheerful themes : a dismal scientist's occasional reflections of the world around him / S. Subramanian.

Includes bibliographical references.

Well-being and the world today -- Global poverty, inequality, and aid flows : a rough guide to some simple justice -- The status of the child in India -- Human development and human rights -- Inclusive development and the quintile income statistic -- Reprisal without rectitude -- Moral catastrophes and immoral reasoning -- Looking back and ahead -- Examining the creamy layer principle -- On headcount poverty comparisons -- Thinking through justice -- Are egalitarians really vulnerable to the levelling-down objection and the divided -- Can we possibly subscribe to both liberty and equality at one and the same time? -- A curmudgeon's complaints -- Jai ho, jeeves! an advanced sociological analysis of slumdog millionaire -- Language and representation or, more modestly, mathematical economics and poverty -- Writing economics in exactly 300 words: two samples in the tradition of J.B. Morton (beachcomber).

Essays in Economics and Other Cheerful Themes is a collection of pieces on economy, polity and society, written by a social scientist over a number of years. The book addresses conceptual and empirical issues in development at both national and global levels. The philosophical bases of these issues are sought to be addressed in relatively non-technical and accessible terms. The book also makes space for essays that deal with less solemn phenomena, such as cricket, film, the conduct of academic institutions, and the esoteric excesses.