This volume is a rich collection of analytical essays penned by those who have been closely associated with Pradeep worldwide. The broad message that comes from the contributions is the importance of open global trading systems, competitive and contestable markets domestically, coordination and regulation of national and global action on this, effective partnerships and representative global governance. The essays cover three main areas: Trade and Development, Competition and Economic Regulation and Governance. A thread that runs through the contributions is the importance of participatory citizenship and civil society activism. These are the areas in which Pradeep Mehta and CUTS have been most active over many decades and this Festschrift is truly an appropriate tribute to his commitment and dedication to the notion that every citizen is a consumer and every consumer is a citizen.

Nitin Desai is an Indian economist and international civil servant. He was Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations (1992-2003). He studied at St. Xavier’s High School and Elphinstone College in Mumbai. He received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Bombay in 1962, and in 1965, earned a Master’s degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Desai lectured in economics at the University of Liverpool and the University of Southampton in the UK from 1965-1970. Returning to India, he worked as a consultant for the then nascent Tata Economic Consultancy Services (1970-1973). His major work here was on the economic analysis of CIDCO’s Twin City project.

Rajeev D. Mathur is Executive Director at CUTS International since 2001. He studied at St. Xavier’s High School at Jaipur and received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, as also a Master’s degree. He worked in the banking sector for 24 years before joining CUTS.