Essays in economics and other cheerful themes : a dismal scientist's occasional reflections of the world around him / S. Subramanian.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Well-being and the world today -- Global poverty, inequality, and aid flows : a rough guide to some simple justice -- The status of the child in India -- Human development and human rights -- Inclusive development and the quintile income statistic -- Reprisal without rectitude -- Moral catastrophes and immoral reasoning -- Looking back and ahead -- Examining the creamy layer principle -- On headcount poverty comparisons -- Thinking through justice -- Are egalitarians really vulnerable to the levelling-down objection and the divided -- Can we possibly subscribe to both liberty and equality at one and the same time? -- A curmudgeon's complaints -- Jai ho, jeeves! an advanced sociological analysis of slumdog millionaire -- Language and representation or, more modestly, mathematical economics and poverty -- Writing economics in exactly 300 words: two samples in the tradition of J.B. Morton (beachcomber).