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S. 55-88: Social aspects of economic development in Israel

It is suggested that the new psychol'al theories re ED fail to take into account specific instit's & cultural values, & often take only a microscopic & not a macroscopic view. A macroscopic view of ED in India is here presented. Econ behavior is interpreted in a context of soc instit's & cultural values, in particular the effects of the joint fam & the caste systems. Both provide certain econ benefits to their members, some of which aid the economy as a whole, but the net effect of caste on the economy is negative: it is occup'ally restrictive & hinders labor mobility; it creates nepotism on a vast scale & often results in underemployment. It is stated that 'India is not yet a nation in a sociol'al or psychol'al sense. It is a collection of mutually suspicious & mutually hostile extended fam's. This aspect of the soc structure prevents cooperation between groups even when selfish interests would rationally dictate cooperation.' Indians tend to use the term 'community' where 'caste' would be more appropriate. It is difficult to ascertain whether Indian values, in particular Hindu religious values, keep India econ'ly backward, but it is certain that many Indian instit's besides caste & the joint fam inhibit ED. It is shown how dysfunctional bur'tic rules are which set narrow limits to profit & discourage capital accumulation. India is not giving adequate higher educ to her youth in many fields; elementary & secondary educ are also deficient. The attachment to caste & village & the fact that the joint fam seldom migrates as a unit keep labor mobility low. The diversity of languages & the religious diff's create a handicap for the migrating workers. Gov has facilitated ED in many ways, but it has also hampered it in some signif ways-ie, its failure to improve agri; the corruption of the lower bur'cy; the status conception of the gov official. The backward land tenure system is viewed as one factor in the lack of agri'al growth; India's mfg is far more rational & modern than its food production & distribution. The pop factor has aggravated India's problems. It is concluded that the cumulative & interrelated effect of all the inhibiting factors, rather than a single one, is responsible for keeping India backward. India needs a revolution in many of its instit's & cultural practices. M. Maxfield.

The first three sessions of this Symposium would, I think, lead one to say that if one tried to arrange man on the basis of biological characteristics one would get a continuum; the papers given in this fourth session have shown the ineradicable, or so far ineradicable, tendency of mankind to split themselves up into discontinuous groups.I personally believe the study of race relations should always be directed to a practical result, that is to enable one to get over this simple human tendency, and to enable us to live together.