B.A. (Hons), M.A (Econ). Ph.D., Hon. D.Sc Europe).

distinguished Indian Economist

Five Specialised Areas in Economics and Econometrics including Studies

The eighty eight published works-Books, Projects and evaluation Reports can be
grouped as those belonging to five areas of specialisation, inster-alia, as mentioned in
the introductory pages earlier.
These areas are:

1. Planning, Formulation of Projects, Projects appraisal and
       evaluation of all the three types – ex-ante, Concurrent and expost.
2. Theoretical and Regional Economics, including application.
3. Contributions of Nobel Laureates in Economics.
4. Un-employment and Poverty.
5. Development of Indicators.

These are briefly elucidated below

 

I. PLANNING, FORMULATION PROJECTS, PROJECT APPRAISAL AND EVALUATION:- By contributions and practical experience for over forty years, Dr. Puttaswamaiah has specialised in this area. He has to his credit more than twenty Projects formulated individually by him for seeking financial assistance from the World Bank and other U. N. Agencies. The following are the most important Projects.

The World Bank wanted to experiment the Drought-Proofing process in India as an experiment. They had asked for six projects from the Country as a whole. The Government of India had requested the Government of Karnataka to prepare projects for this purpose in two Districts. As Director of Planning Department, Dr. K. Puttaswamaiah formulated these two Projects for the Districts of Bijapur and Kolar. The World Bank has appreciated both the Projects and the State Government was free to select one and the project relating to Bijapur District was chosen for appraisal, though both the Projects had
underwent the World Bank’s Reconnaisance surveys. Both the Projects were considered very good by the Appraisal Team and after Appraisal, the Team had mentioned that “only Bijapur has prepared proposals sufficiently to enable Appraisal by the Mission out of the Projects sent by India”. The elements identified and included in this Project were later emulated in the brought-prone area projects in other States in India and later in other Countries outside India also. Thus, the Project has set a Pivotal example and a guide to Drought Proofing Planning in the World.
b). Dairy and Dairy Cattle Development Project, Karnataka, Bangalore:-

This Project which had to be prepared within a month, had to obtain clearance from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Anand, Gujarat State in India which was a precondition of the World Bank Appraisal Mission to appraise the Project of Karnataka. The Project was discussed with the NDDB Staff and Dr. Kurien, The well known Dairy Technologist from India and also Chairman, NDDB was happy to approve the project and gave the clearance letter. The
World Bank Team Appraised the Project and approved it for implementation. The Project is now considered as a ‘Boon’ to Bangalore as the Bangalore Dairy Development Corporation has been able to supply milk and meet the other by products requirements with the increasing demand due to growth of city’s population. Now, the Project is spread to the major Cities of the State. The other States in India have followed the Model set in the this Project.
c). Project for Social Forestry:- This Project is a new Concept. Repeater projects are under implementation.
d). Projects for regulated Markets:- This Project has enabled the State
to establish a net-work of Markets, which ensures fair pricing of products and help the producers.
e). Karnataka Sericulture Project:- Mysore was traditionally a silk producing State and was confined only to Mysore and Kolar Districts. This Project has enbled growth of Sericulture in other areas of the State Bivoltine varaity (white Silk) is now being produced as a result of this Projects. Many other states have similar projects and Karnataka project has set a model.
f). Project for Integrated Development of Horticulture:- Production, onsumption and Marketing - all these three elements are ensured future for the Horticultural products in this Project.
g). Projects for Introducing at the Gross - Root- level Training and Visit (T & V) system in Agriculture :- This Project was the first in the World and it is seen in the one of the documents of the World Bank that this Model is introduced in more than 4000 Countries.
h). Projects for Development of Cashew:- These are many such Projects formulated and it is too difficult to enumerate. Each of the above Projects and others listed elsewere contained economic analysis and they have been helpful for the people below poverty line.

EVALUATION STUDIES: Of the many Evaluation studies listed later, the most
important ones are indicated below: 
a) Evaluation report on the Roads Programme in Mysore State:- It has been felt that Public works Department is a hard nut to Evaluate. This Report which runs to over two hundred pages has Evaluated the then existing Roads and has suggested a Communication network necessary for the Growth of the economy of the State. Several Journals and periodicals including very prominent
New papers have published good reviews and Editorials. The criteria followed in the selection of roads, and its monitering have been analysed. The dates and the sources of reviews and Editorials are indicated in the list itself.
b). Evaluation of Industrial States:- This Evaluation Report became the basis for Policy formulation in establishing such estates in the State. The existing Industrial States when the report was released had to be reviewd by the Government keeping in view of the recommendations made in the report. The roads had to be located and  fresh ones taken-up only on the basis of economic criteria.  There are about over twenty studies of equal importance which shaped economic policies of the State at that time. We have mentioned two of the many studies as illustrative examples which are found in the list provided later.
Books on Planning, Evaluation, Project Appraisal and Cost-Benefit Analysis:- Out of the major books listed, the following pages are those which relate to
Planning, Evaluation, Project Appraisal and Cost-Benefit Analysis. These books are also described with the aid of Reviews and so on in the previous section. The books which relate to the specialization in this area are:
a) Aspects of Planning.
b) Aspects of Evaluation.
c) Cost-Benefit Analysis - A Theoretical and Applied Critique of Alternate Methodologies.
d) Project Evaluation Criteria and Cost-Benefit Analysis.
e) Cost-Benefit Analysis – Environmental and Ecological Perspectives.
f) Cost-Benefit Analysis – Irrigation and Drought Proofing.
g) Fundamentals of Applied Evaluation.
h) Studies in Evaluation.
The above books have been authored on the basis of experience. These are
illustrated with the help of reviews, opinions and so on which are stated in the previous section.
The reports relating to the Projects formulated, Evaluation studies made Cost-
Benefit Analysis of the selected areas and the books just listed above will explain the specialization in this area.
II. REGIONAL ECONOMICS: THEORETICAL AND APPLIED
a). The Economic Development of Karnataka – A Treatise in
Continuity and Change:- This book is the result of hardwork and research in various areas of the State. The book published in a set of two volumes has been very well received by reviewers and academicians, Planners and Administrators. We have described this book earlier. Without duplicating this effort, it could only be said that this is an excellent book on Regional Economics. The three other  books mentioned below relate to the area of Regional economics only.
Since it has been described in the previous section, the titles are only mentioned: b)Theory and Practice of Macro and Micro Economics in Honour of Prof. Paul A.Samuelson. c) Econometrics Models –Techniques and pplications,‘Foreword” by Jan Tinbergen ,d) Economic Policy and TaxReform in India,’Foreword’ by Prof. M.S. Swaminathan and Irrigation Projects in India– Towards a New policy.
While the first three books are entirely based on original research, the
last one on irrigation based on complete fieldwork in the irrigation
project areas of the State. The Projects and evaluation Studies listed
fully later belong to this area.
III. CONTRIBUTIONS OF NOBEL LAUREATES IN ECONOMICS :-
Dr. K. Puttaswamaiah has published the following books in this area and they are: a). Nobel Economists – Lives and Contributions,:- published in a set of
of three volumes covers thirty seven Laureates from 1969-1994. This has
been published with ‘Foreword’ by Jan Tinbergen, the first Nobel
Laureate in Economics. This book has already been analysed before.
b). Tinbergen And Modern Economics:- The Noble Economist Saint:- This book contains papers from his colleagues and students. Thus, the book throws lot of new light of Economics and the contributions of Tinbergen in particular. This book is in fond memory of the respected Professer Jan Tinbergen who founded the Journal with Dr.K. Puttaswamaiah.
c). John Hicks – His Life and Contributions to Economic Theory and
Application:-
This book contains a number of papers from those who were very close
to John Hicks including Professors Paul A. Samuelson, the first American
Nobel Laureate. Prof. Samuelson has also provided ‘Foreword’ to this
book. This is in Memory of this great Scholar in Economics, who had
released Dr. Puttaswamaiah’s Kannada version of the “Value and
Capital” at the campus of University of Mysore, Karnataka, India.
d). Paul A. Samuelson – The Foundation of Modern Economics:-
This book contains a good number of papers which explain the Life and
Contributions of Professer Paul A. Samuelson. This book is a token of Dr.
K Puttaswamaiah’s affection and regard to the respected Professer who is
also a great Scholar in Economics like Jan Tinbergen.
e). Wassily Leontief – Input – Output Analysis:- This book with ‘Foreword’ by Prof. Paul A. Samuelson with a numbe of papers on Input- Output technique has been very well received. This book is in memory of Wassily Leontief who was a Member of our Editorial Advisory Board of the ‘Journal’.
f). Franco Modigliani,- Peerless Twentieth Century Macro Economist:- This book with ‘Forword’ by Prof. Paul A, Samuelson, is published in memory of Franco Modigliani who was a Member of our Editorial Advisory Board of the ‘Journal’. 
IV. UNEMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY :- The following books which are already
described earlier are mentioned below as those belonging to this area:-
a). Unemployment in India – Policy for Manpower.
b). Poverty and Rural Development,(‘Foreword’, by Michel Lipton)
c). Micro Plan for Full Employment – The parameters in estimating Unemployment is developed in this study. This study was commissioned by the Government of India.Prof. Dantawala Committee which submitted a report on “Unemployment in India” was a factual Report and had given the quantum of Unemployment only in India and had not indicated how that quantum was
estimated.This study was commissioned to fill that gap and provide the necessary parameters for measurement.
d). Unemployment in India in Kannada(University Award winning
book).
e). Several Schemes formulated to help in reducing the unemployment
and bring those who are below the Poverty line above.
V. INDICATORS OF DEVELOPMENT :- In many studies, indicators for respective areas for measuring are developed. Only two studies as examples are mentioned below:-
a). Indicators of Development with reference to Mysore’s Economy and
b). Customer Service in Canara Bank – Indicators for measurement, A
Study.While the first study helps to demarcate the forward and backward areas which is a necessary process in planning for a State or a Country, the second one contains indicators to measure the efficiency in the performance of Banks, particularly Customer Services.
The above two studies are very well described in the relevant section.