Economic policy and decision making do not function in a political vacuum.

India has, of course, aspirations of getting out of its poverty, ignorance, and disease which still afflict millions of people. But I do believe that we have something to offer to the rest of the world, including the United States.

If you have a rigidly controlled economy, cut off from the rest of the world by infinite protection, nobody has any incentive to increase productivity and to bring new ideas.

Democracy is good for world peace.

The Chinese have certain advantages. The fact that it's a single party government. But I do believe in the long run the fact that India is a functioning democracy committed to the rule of law. Our system is slow to move but I'm confident that once decisions are taken they are going to be far more durable.

We should put more money in health. We should put more money in devising credible social safety nets for the poor.

In a country where employment opportunities are not growing fast enough, the fear of change tends to be very acute.