Economist Thapa’s book published posthumously

Kathmandu, June 4

'Arthatantrako Ankhijhyal', an anthology of articles and opinions of Economist Dr. Govinda Bahadur Thapa has been published posthumously.

Former Finance Minister, Surendra Pandey, Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Dr. Min  Bahadur Shrestha, and President of Dr. Govinda Bahadur Thapa Memorial Foundation, Indira Thapa jointly released the book at a programme held in Kathmandu the other day.

The foundation is the publisher of the book.

The book is a collection of 61 articles written by economist Thapa during his lifetime. He died of COVID-19 in June 2021. He had served as the executive director of the Nepal Rastra Bank and worked as a development economist.

The 400-page book is divided into four sections: Theoretical, Contemporary, Budget and Miscellaneous. The theoretical section covers topics such as economic inequality and the way forward, macroeconomic policy, economic systems, sources of government revenue, export trade, inequalities generated by liberalism, conditions for the upliftment of the marginalised people, agriculture and private sector.

The contemporary section includes the deteriorating foreign trade situation and recent trends, the latest trends in the banking sector, the crisis of the capitalist economy, foreign aid and reforms in the banking sector.

Issues like the government budget system, imbalances in the implementation of the budget, Maoist's economic policy and budget, and implementation of the budget and periodic plans are included in the budget section.

Likewise, various topics including economic liberalisation, earthquake damage and reconstruction, India's experience in poverty alleviation, a way for Nepal's development, the economics of Dashain, the necessity of land-reform programme, and cooperation between government and private sector are in the miscellaneous section.  

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 5 June 2023.