What happened to Indian supremacy? : the systemic loss of prosperity

From the 15th to the 18th century, northern India was one of the most prosperous regions in the world, with highly advanced industrial and commercial techniques. A favourable natural endowment and the stability of the Mughal Empire allowed the creation of forward and backward linkages. These resulted in an economic system of inter-linked producers driven by market forces. The system itself was a key factor in the prosperity and competitiveness of the producers who comprised it. In the 18th century, the pillars on which the system stood began to fall. This history provides a systems-based explanation for the decline of an efficient, flexible economy. (J Asia Pac Econ/GIGA)