Author: Jacob John

N. J. KURIAN, an economist with over 35 years of professional experience, is currently Visiting Professor, Council for Social Development, New Delhi. He is the President of Kerala Development Society, New Delhi. He was Advisor (Financial Resources), Planning Commission, Government of India. He is the former Director of Council for Social Development, New Delhi. He was also a Professor, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi. The thrust areas of his work have been fiscal federalism, tax policy, expenditure policy, state finances, social development and regional disparities.JACOB JOHN, an economist with over 25 years of experience, is currently the Director of KDS-Delhi, a Resource Centre for Development of States. He is also a consultant to various research institutes in New Delhi. He has served UNIDO in India and Italy, as national and international expert, for more than 8 years. He has also worked with Institute of Social Sciences, ASSOCHAM and Confederation of Indian Industry. His main areas of research include local government, fiscal decentralization, education, self help groups (SHGs) and micro credit.