Kerala: Radical Reform as Development in an Indian State, by Richard W. Franke (TPB, 1994, $1.75)
In 1957 the citizens of Kerala democratically elected a reformist Communist government. As I skimmed this book, written in 1994, I wondered if things had worked out the way they hoped, and actually they had! They now have a literacy rate of 94%, a life expectancy of 74 years, and a poverty rate of only 10%! (Poverty rates in 1957 had been a wopping 69%!) Strangely unemployment and per capita income have not improved much.
The most radical of reforms had to do with land reform. The size of rice land-holdings was capped. Excess land was redistributed to the landless, with the prior owners receiving some compensation. Taxes on the large land holders were collected and redistributed to the poor. Rented land became the property of its former tenants. Or at least that was what was supposed to happen. In actuality most change came about from the transfer of rented land to former tenants.
Franke discusses the stereotype of third world Communists as being "outside agents of the Soviet Union or some other antagonistic power", or as "corrupt puppets engaging in an international conspiracy against more 'democratic" regimes." It would sure seem that even if they were communist, this government got things done. Taking the poverty rate from 69% to 10%! It is interesting that the current government is not communist, but that the reforms are still in place.
Of course there are unique aspects of the Kerala area, including its natural beauty, which means much of its economy is now related to tourism. Still, this land redistribution did bring about a lot of changes. Was this tried anywhere else, and if so with what success? As Capitalists, what do we think of all this?
Look for this book in the Indian history section, avail. 2/1.
