LSE Professor of Economics and International Growth Centre Director Robin Burgess was in Patna, India, last weekend to attend the IGC Bihar Growth Week Conference 2013. Anisha Anand interviewed Professor Burgess about the state’s growth and prospects for the Times of India

Anand, Anisha

Burgess, Robin

LSE Research Online

2013-7-23Bihar growth model may bear fruit in other Indian states:Robin Burgessblogs.lse.ac.uk /southasia/2013/07/23/bihar-growth-model-may-bear-fruit-in-other-indian-states-robin-burgess/LSE Professor of Economics and International Growth Centre Director Robin Burgess was in Patna, India,last weekend to attend the IGC Bihar Growth Week Conference 2013. Anisha Anand interviewed Professor Burgessabout the state’s growth and prospects for the Times of India.   Q. At the inaugural session of the Bihar Growth Conference in Patna on July 20, you said you found Bihar’sgrowth impressive. Stats apart, what changes have you seen?A. If I contrast the state with what it was during my visit in the year 1995, I notice a sea change in terms ofinfrastructure and crime rate. People now move around in the evening without worrying about their security. Nodoubt, Biharis are the best brains and some of the best doctors practicing across the world are Biharis. The onlyproblem is, those best brains are spread across the globe and not inside the state.Q. What do you feel is the best move made by  Nitish Kumar as the chief minister to prove he is a worthyleader of the state?A. His best strategy was to post the best, most talented and hardworking IAS officers on key positions ofbureaucracy and give them adequate powers. This is how an ideal democracy ought to work, where ministers givethe ideas and civil servants execute them. The period prior to Nitish coming to power was the period when Biharwas called a failed state. A failed state is a state which does not serve its citizens. With Nitish at the helm, however,people started believing this man would give them development. I don’t think any other poor state like Odishaor Madhya Pradesh has put so much emphasis on public welfare.Q. A lot has been said of late about Bihar’s model of growth. Do you feel the Bihar model should beemulated for the betterment of other states as well?A. With a set of strong leaders and bureaucrats at the helm, people were delivered many things—like teachers, newinstitutions, and welfare schemes such as the bicycle scheme. Also, caste-based politics gave way to developmentpolitics, thanks to your CM’s focus on a development agenda. Yes, such a development policy may prove fruitful forother states in the country.Q. Our CM has also put emphasis on quality education and a number of good educational institutions havecome up in Bihar recent years. Yet, migration of students to other states continues. What could be the1/2reason?A. Frankly speaking, if I were asked to give a subtitle to Bihar, I would call it ‘Educational State’. For, the thirst thepeople here have for education is not seen anywhere else. Even poor parents are conscious enough to providegood education to their children, but the only problem is that they send their children outside the state for studiesbecause they feel there are better employment opportunities outside the state. Bihar lacks industries –pharmaceuticals, software, biotechnology – and, as such, students feel a seat in IIT-Kanpur or IIT-Kharagpur isbetter than that in IIT-Patna. Copyright © 2016 London School of Economics2/2

Bihar growth model may bear fruit in other Indian states: Robin Burgess

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