, Columnist
Is India Creating Jobs or Not?
That’s the wrong question to ask.
Formal jobs are being created, but not fast enough.
Photographer: Frederic Soltan/Corbis News/Getty Images
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In recent months, a sharp debate has broken out over whether India is or isn’t creating new jobs. Supporters of the government cite studies, such as those based on Employees Provident Fund data, that show rising job growth. Critics point to household surveys that show jobs being shed in the past year, after the government shocked the economy by suddenly withdrawing most cash from circulation and then introducing a complex goods-and-services tax.
Who’s right? Both are — and both are missing the point.