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Deindustrialisation and the Drain Theory: The Contours of Economic Degradation in British India

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  • Gadre, Animesh

Abstract

Given the lively debate on the consequences of British colonialism on the Indian economy in the realms of contemporary politics and academia, this paper attempts to trace the development of the economic history of India since the 18th century with a distinct focus on the drain theory of wealth and the question of deindustrialisation. It examines a diverse set of academic publications on this subject and compares the evidence shown by a wide range of authors to arrive at possible conclusions. It is found that the composition of the drain theory of wealth was critically questioned by scholars both home and abroad, and its set of core suppo- sitions remain unsubstantiated. On the other hand, the evidence for the deindustrialisation hypothesis is found to be significant, at least for the regions of Gangetic Bihar and Bengal, during the early 19th century.

Suggested Citation

  • Gadre, Animesh, 2021. "Deindustrialisation and the Drain Theory: The Contours of Economic Degradation in British India," MPRA Paper 108977, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:108977
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    File URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/108977/1/MPRA_paper_108977.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Roy, Tirthankar, 2011. "Economic History of India, 1857-1947," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, edition 3, number 9780198074175.
    2. Roy,Tirthankar, 2007. "Traditional Industry in the Economy of Colonial India," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521033053.
    3. Clingingsmith, David & Williamson, Jeffrey G., 2008. "Deindustrialization in 18th and 19th century India: Mughal decline, climate shocks and British industrial ascent," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 45(3), pages 209-234, July.
    4. Indrajit Ray, 2009. "Identifying the woes of the cotton textile industry in Bengal: tales of the nineteenth century," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 62(4), pages 857-892, November.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    drain; deindustrialisation; colonialism; economic degradation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N95 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History - - - Asia including Middle East
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development

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