Dhaka, Oct. 9 -- Despite reforms, policy innovations, and impressive macroeconomic performance in recent decades, inequality continues to undercut the promise of inclusive growth. This paradox -- growth without equitable distribution -- has long been observed in developing nations, but it is particularly striking in South Asia, where persistent disparity remains a barrier to sustainable development.

At a recent book launch in Dhaka, the issue was once again brought into sharp focus. The book Apostles of Development: Six Economists and the World They Made, authored by Yale University Professor David C. Engerman, explores the intellectual legacies of economists who shaped South Asia's development thinking. In his remarks at the event, Prof...