In India a globally impressive talent pool co-exists with the highest incidence of poverty in theworld. The engaged citizen is aware of this situation, wants to know how it has come to be andwhat can be done to improve it. That the country's full potential is not being realized to make fora dynamic economy and acceptable living conditions for her people points to something beyondeconomics being at play. And this is the ever-present politics.In this volume, edited by Bimal Jalan and Pulapre Balakrishnan, twelve professionals illuminatethe interface between politics and economics in the country, illustrating in the process how theirinteraction will determine the path that India will take. Among the subjects discussed are theimplications of the emergence of coalition governments as the norm, the rise of civic activism, thetension between identity politics and development and the nature of the discourse on the informalsector. The essays also offer possible solutions to end corruption in administration and identify thestrategic factors in achieving inclusive growth. With contributions from Meghnad Desai, Dipankar Gupta, Poonam Gupta, Ashima Goyal, RaviKanbur, Sunil Mani, T.T. Ram Mohan, Deepak Mohanty, Samuel Paul and M. Govinda Rao,Politics Trumps Economics is an incisive comment on how politics can influence the outcome of themost well-intentioned of economic policies.