<p>I was listening to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC-2QVOQcg8" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this debate on India vs China</a>. Professor <a href="https://mahbubani.net/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Dr. Kishore Mahbubani</a> posed this question (watch from 17:21).</p>
<p>Let us see the <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD?locations=IN-CN" rel="nofollow noreferrer">following graph</a>:</p>
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/OW5pq.png" width="400" />
<p>India has a population comparable to China. But, the size of its GDP is much lower. Also, India's <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-india-inequality-bigger-challenge-than-poverty/story-i5bvo7P2vVOEHOngFX5n1K.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">wealth gap is horrible</a>.</p>
<p>Why couldn't India grow its economy as fast as China did?</p>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> I am interested in 1978 and onward as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_economic_reform" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Deng Xiao Ping's economic reform</a> came around this time.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-27T01:08:20.730Z
It is as you say, greater inequality and less state management has held India back.
Steve
<gdp><china>
Why couldn't India grow its economy as fast as China did?
user366312
# Why couldn't India grow its economy as fast as China did?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-06-26)

I was listening to [this debate on India vs China](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC-2QVOQcg8). Professor [Dr. Kishore Mahbubani](https://mahbubani.net/) posed this question (watch from 17:21).

Let us see the [following graph](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD?locations=IN-CN):

![](https://i.sstatic.net/OW5pq.png)

India has a population comparable to China. But, the size of its GDP is much lower. Also, India's [wealth gap is horrible](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-india-inequality-bigger-challenge-than-poverty/story-i5bvo7P2vVOEHOngFX5n1K.html).

Why couldn't India grow its economy as fast as China did?

**Note:** I am interested in 1978 and onward as [Deng Xiao Ping's economic reform](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_economic_reform) came around this time.

**Tags:** gdp, china

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It is as you say, greater inequality and less state management has held India back.  

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## 0 answers

