Developed country experts on international affairs and the global economy have consistently underestimated the speed with which China’s economy and power would rise relative to Germany, Japan and the USA. They are now similarly underestimating the speed at which India’s economy will close the economic size and power gaps. This book shows, why and how a tri-polar global power structure will emerge from the current confused system variously described as ‘multipolar’, ‘apolar’, ‘pluripolar’, ‘West and the rest’ and ‘unipolar with an oligopolistic fringe’. The Book goes on to draw out the implications and consequences of this evolving global power structure and makes suggestions on the policy options that need to be explored and pursued to increase the possibility of a peaceful transformation .

Dr. Virmani has been Chief Economic Advisor, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance; Principle Advisor, Planning Commission; Director & Chief Executive, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) and Member, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

He has extensive experience of the financial sector having served as Chairman, Board of Trustees of SBI Mutual Fund, and Director on the Boards of LIC, PNB and Allahabad Bank, and Trustee of UTI. He was a member of the Appellate Tribunal for SEBI Act. He chaired the Working Group on Public Debt Management (middle office) and Inter-ministerial Group on Customs Duty Reform.

His areas of policy research include: macroeconomics, growth, international trade, tariffs, credit markets, and international relations and global security. Among his books are: Accelerating Growth and Poverty Reduction: A Policy Framework for India’s Development (Academic Foundation, 2004), Propelling India from Socialist Stagnation to Global Power, Vols. I and II (Academic Foundation, 2006) and The Sudoku of India’s Growth (BS Books, 2009).