China, India, and the Modern World Economy

Fall 2021
HIST/GLOS 3850 China, India, and the Modern World Economy
Essay #2: This essay is your final assignment of this class. It covers 15 % of your total grade.
Answer the following question.
Do you think that the world economy in the 21st century is (and will be) an Asiacentered world economy? What evidence and insights from the articles (you have
read in this class) would you use to support your argument?
Guideline: Pay attention to the following guidelines.
Answer the essay question (above) based on your reading of the articles (in weeks 9, 11, and 12).
You may also use the GDP data in Maddisons article that you have read in week #3. Your
answer should include a brief discussion of the rapid economic growth in China and India and
how that trend is reconfiguring or changing the dynamics of the world economy. The Asiacentered world economy means a world economy in which Asia will play a prominent, and
possibly a dominant, role. Whatever position you take (affirmative or non-affirmative) on this
question, you must provide quantitative and/or qualitative evidence from the articles/chapters. It
is not required, but if you wish you may consult and use other scholarly articles (do not use
online blogs or Wikipedia) to write your essay.
You must cite your source for all important information/data presented in the essay (you may
use any style i.e., in the text itself or footnote/endnote). Your reference must include authors
name, title of the book or chapter/article, and specific page number from where the information
or data are taken.
Do not fill you essay with direct quotes from the articles. You must limit long quotation from
the source to 2 or 3. Write the essay in your own words and as clearly and precisely as
possible. It is always good to write short and clear sentences. Focus on the question and do not
write anything that is not relevant to the question.
You must use evidence and insights from the following articles that you have read in this class.
1. Angus Maddison, The West and the Rest in the World Economy: 1000-2030,
Maddisonian and Malthusian Interpretations.
2. Loren Brandt, Debin Ma, and Thomas Rawski, From Divergence to Convergence:
Reevaluating the History Behind Chinas Economic Boom (specially pp. 92-112).
3. S. Swaminathan and Anklesaria Ayer, Twenty-Five Years of Indian Economic Reform:
A Story of Private-Sector Success, Government Failure, and Institutional Weakness.

4. Vasil Gechev, China & India: A Comparison of Economic Growth Dynamics.

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