This volume provides a comprehensive and detailed socio-economic overview of agrarian distress in India. Using empirical research and field data from rural India, especially Punjab, this book examines the underlying causes of farmer suicide and steps which can mitigate the crisis.

Lakhwinder Singh is a Professor at the Department of Economics and Coordinator at the Centre for Development Economics and Innovation Studies, Punjabi University, India.

Kesar Singh Bhangoo is a Professor of Economics at the Centre for Research in Economic Change, Department of Economics, Punjabi University, India.

Rakesh Sharma is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Sachdeva Girls College, Gharuan, Mohali, India.

List of figures. List of tables. Foreword by Nirvikar Singh. Preface. List of abbreviations. 1. Introduction to the second edition 2. Perspectives on agrarian distress and rural suicides 3. Economic development and rural distress in Punjab 4. Farmer and agriculture labourer suicides in Punjab: analysis of the census survey 5. Rural households: socioeconomic characteristics 6. Determinants of agrarian distress in Punjab: magnitude and manifestation 7. A village on sale: microscopic analysis and rural distress 8. Summary, conclusions and policy suggestions. Appendices. References. Index.