Economic Nationalism is quintessentially fundamental to our economic growth: Vice-President | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Economic Nationalism is quintessentially fundamental to our economic growth: Vice-President

Posted 17 Feb 2024

Updated 22 Mar 2024

2 min read

  • Economic Nationalism is conventionally seen as an ideology which favours domestic control of the economy, labour and capital formation.
    • Unlike globalisation which promotes interdependence among nations, economic nationalists favour tariffs to restrict free trade, promote indigenous industries and seek import substitution.
       
  • Benefits of Economic Nationalism
    • Helps protect domestic market, particularly in the nascent stage of nation-building. For example,
      • After independence, India adopted Import Substitution for self-reliant economy.
      • India still reserves certain items for public procurement from MSEs.
    • Prevents drain of foreign exchange caused by imports.
    • Facilitates local employment by promoting domestic businesses including MSMEs.
       
  • Concerns associated with economic nationalism
    • Protectionist policies stifle innovation by lowering competition from foreign businesses.
      • e.g., prolonged protectionism led to the Economic crisis in India in the 1990s that prompted 1991 economic reforms.
    • May lead to trade wars, imperialism and conflicts as was seen during the 20th century.
    • Economic isolation can lead to political and cultural isolation.
       

Economic nationalism in India

  • In pre-independence India, economic nationalism was manifested in the economic critique of colonial rule and the swadeshi movement.
  • Recent initiatives like Vocal for Local, Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, etc. can be clubbed under the broader idea of Economic nationalism.
    • However, they lack an insular approach and are not against the ethos of globalisation.
  • Tags :
  • conomic Nationalism
  • Import Substitution
  • trade wars
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