In recent times, South Asia has attracted global attention for demonstrating rapid growth. What is not so well known is that this is the least integrated region in the world. South Asia has opened its door to the rest of the world but remains closed to its neighbours. Poor market integration, weak connectivity, and a history of conflict have created ‘two South Asias’. The first is dynamic, urbanized, globally integrated, and rapidly growing; the second is rural, impoverished, and lagging.

Accelerating Growth and Job Creation in South Asia provides fresh perspectives on these issues by exploring the link between regional integration, economic growth, and job creation. The outcome of a high-level dialogue between the private sector, political leadership, policymakers, and academics in South Asia, this volume is an important contribution to the debates in this area.

The volume is organized along three themes—overview of South Asia’s growth opportunities and challenges; sources of growth and policies for the future; and the significance of regional cooperation in promoting growth. The essays combine quantitative data with analytical rigour to provide innovative suggestions in terms of policies and institutions that can propel South Asia towards higher growth, while promoting inclusiveness.

Timely and relevant in the context of the ongoing global crisis, this book will be useful for policymakers, NGOs, development agencies, and industry strategists. It will also be of interest to students and scholars of economics and South Asian studies.

‘In this excellent volume, Ejaz Ghani and Sadiq Ahmed have invited the world's leading scholars to apply their talents to understanding the economies of South Asia. They cover a wide range of topics. Scholars interested in South Asia will find the volume most illuminating.’ —Arvind Panagariya, Columbia University

‘The importance of this book cannot be overestimated. It powerfully explores the link between regional integration, economic growth, and job creation. It has several imaginative proposals that can be debated and discussed. It is ambitious but not unmindful of the difficult political economy of the region …’ —Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Centre for Policy Research

‘This book … usefully turns the spotlight away from India to the regional context. Its proposals for regional cooperation merit attention from all those who are interested in the long-term economic health of any of the South Asian countries. Businessmen and politicians across the region should take note of the key messages.’—Homi Kharas, Wolfensohn Center for Development, The Brookings Institution

‘This book … brings insight to the setting of priorities and strategies to accomplish the objective of sustained growth and poverty reduction.’ —Michael Spence, Chair of the Commission on Growth and Development, and Nobel Laureate in Economics, 2001

‘South Asia is on a path of economic ascendancy, and … economic growth has been widely shared among the countries of the region. Yet, these countries face enormous challenges in reducing poverty, generating employment, and achieving regional economic integration. By addressing these issues with a great deal of analytical rigour and originality, this book provides fresh perspectives on South Asian economic development.’ —Wahiduddin Mahmud, University of Dhaka