Economist Hari Roka, who has been writing and debating on economy, politics and foreign affairs for three decades, is not a new name even for South Asian readers who are interested in Nepal.

Bella Publications has recently launched a serious and research book called 'Alternative Economy' by Roka, who carefully analyzes society and politics from a Marxist scientific point of view, analyzes the causes and consequences of every event, and always advocates policies in favor of the common people and humanity. 

Alternative economic policy, state and economy, financial crisis: causes and consequences, economy after Corona, this book written from the point of view of political-economic analysis on twelve topics has come to the reader with more sophisticated, mature ideas and factual evidence than Roka's pre-published articles or papers.  Roca represents a different trend than mainstream writers, policymakers and politicians who present

topics in a technical way, do not look for alternative solutions to problems, never self-examine their thinking, and advocate the same policy and program for decades even if the goal is not achieved. This book of his has exposed that different perspective and consciousness. By making books, articles, research findings and reports of national and international organizations as reference material, Roka has given the book a research format.

The book helps to understand the use of neoliberalism in Nepal, its impact in the economic and social sphere and the changes it has brought about in the basic character of Nepali politics and the dependence on foreign aid and its policy intervention and how Nepal is losing its power due to excessive dependence and falling into poverty. does. 

In all the twelve essays of the book, starting with the introduction section, Roka connects the contemporary politics of Nepal with the development of economic history. How is Nepal being affected by the international ideological struggle and the economic-political philosophy-approach communicated, directed and imposed by powerful countries? 

How is Nepal being pushed behind other countries day by day by not being able to identify the appropriate development method for its society-country? Becoming dependent? Falling into the swamp of corruption? Drowning in debt? And, the desert is being transformed into a slum? The author has analyzed this topic. Also, why are there no similarities in the principles and practices of the heroes of the republic? Why is corruption happening? And why is the people's trust in the leadership breaking? He also presents a logical opinion on the subject. 

The first essay on "Alternative Economic Policy" in South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong has succeeded in developing the economic policy adopted by warring Japan after the Second World War, in Latin American countries 

It is mentioned that the third world is attracted towards mixed economic system from the perspective of growing dissatisfaction with classical and neoclassical economic ideas as life has become difficult due to rising inflation. However, in the 1970s, due to the decline in productivity, unemployment and inflation, countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom moved towards neoliberalism from the 1980s, as a result of which third countries also began to emphasize trade liberalization, encouragement of foreign direct investment, privatization and deregulation for development.  According to the author of

, progressive taxation, employment-oriented development, neglect of subsidies and social security, individualism and profit-seeking tendencies have led to one economic, political and humanitarian crisis in the world.

While reviewing the economic framework of Nepal, Roka writes, 'It is not even thought that existing in Nepal should be prepared a new alternative economic policy instead of the ancient economic policy by being more serious than raising popular slogans with any political party, whether they are powerful or weak, Communists are written in the name or democratic. The author has presented the socio-political aspects of economic development and the challenges of planned economic development while clarifying the concept of the basis of alternative economic framework. He has mentioned some signs of alternative economic policies, but clearly he has not said that this is the pattern of Nepali economic development. 

In the second essay, liberal, neoliberal and socialist oriented states are discussed. He defined the liberal state as a legal state, governed by people's representatives, protecting the people's lives through security forces, protecting the country from external interference, providing citizenship, providing public services, and collecting revenue, while he called the neoliberal state a state dominated by markets, trade and capital. . 

has also presented it as a state that does not give social concessions and cuts the budget of public welfare expenses, encourages foreign investment and trade, privatizes and emphasizes on indirect rather than direct taxes. He says about the negative effects of the neoliberal state: it has weakened the right of the working class to live, has given huge benefits to the owners of financial capital, has made life difficult for the weaker sections by cutting investment in the social and public sectors, has thrown the majority of people out of the mainstream.

also writes about the characteristics of a socialist-oriented state, it guarantees employment, regional and regional balance in investment, access to quality education and health for all, protection of the environment and biological diversity, and mechanization and robotization in production.

In the essay on transformation of agriculture and food security, the author has discussed the agricultural system from the origin of agriculture to the present day, land management, country experiences, farmers' condition, agricultural policy, transformation of agriculture, access to credit and exploitation of farmers in different periods based on reference books. The author has said that the current environment is becoming more unfavorable for the agricultural development of Nepal than in the past. 

In the fourth essay, Roka has written - Although the land reform program was brought forward in Nepal with the slogan 'Whose land is his vessel', later neither the Nepali Congress government nor the government led by the communists wanted to increase this agenda. Regardless of revolutionary, land reform, scientific land reform, there was no equitable distribution of land, as a result of which nine commissions were formed from 2048 to 2078, but the squatter problem could not be solved.

Similarly, the author has discussed the theory of cooperatives, types of cooperatives in Nepal, the problems of agricultural cooperatives and the steps to be taken for the development of agricultural cooperatives based on the research conducted on the basis of on-site studies about cooperatives and agricultural cooperatives. He believes that agricultural cooperatives are seen as a beacon of hope for the economic progress of small farmers, but due to structural and other problems, it has not achieved its purpose. 

In his essays on industrial policy and monetary policy, the author has also mentioned how international aid organizations have played a supportive role in the expansion of neoliberalism and are also influencing the psychology of the intellectuals in developing countries. For the industrial development of Nepal, national consensus, redistribution of wealth, development of import substitution and export promotion industries, construction of industrial infrastructure by the state, re-operation of sick industries have been suggested.

The author discusses the theoretical and policy controversies and partisanships seen in ownership, leadership, technology and development frameworks in different periods in the world, referring to the policies adopted by Nepal in various plans and the neoliberal strategy after 2046. He said that carbon emission should be free and industrial development should be equitable.

Similarly, he explains how the globalization of financial capital has legally captured the resources of developing countries and the freedom of self-determination of nations has been curtailed by the strict conditions of the International Monetary Fund.  The

book also discusses the financial crisis, its consequences, the financial crisis of 2008 and the need to rethink neoliberal thinking. It is precisely explained in this context why the state needs not only a regulatory but also a protective role. In addition, it has been emphasized that the state should tighten the regulation of the financial sector and stop financial corruption in order to prevent or minimize such a crisis. 

The analysis of the economy after the corona epidemic has also found an important place in the book. Roka has linked the origin, expansion and deadly effects of epidemics like the Corona epidemic to the current neoliberal world economy that is geared towards financial globalization, privatization and profiteering. In this context,

quotes Tithi Bhattacharya and writes: Capitalism has privatized life and socialized death. Since the origin, development and immediate destruction of the corona virus is connected with the world economic system, the post-corona world economy faced problems such as recession, broken supply chain, unemployment, lack of consumption, and investment was affected when a lot of money was spent on concession packages. Debts of developing countries rose sharply. State-capitalism was established to fix the economy weakened by Corona. 

Digitization started in public administration, banking, education and health sectors. In Nepal, twelve thousand lives were lost and production worth three hundred and two billion was lost. The author has also put forward some suggestions for increasing employment and production for economic upliftment after Corona. All the twelve essays presented in the

book are excellent in terms of composition. An essay is equal to a whole book due to its breadth of subject matter, concise presentation and in-depth analysis. Every essay is written with references from countless reference books, adding world reference, regional reference and Nepali reference.  The

book is written in a way that the general reader can understand. One does not need to be a philosopher to understand the political economy composition of this book, one does not need to be a financial analyst, economist, management expert or agricultural economist to understand the essays on industrial development, tax system and agriculture and cooperative sector. Every letter of the essay not only makes the general reader aware of the subject, but also gives a perspective on it. This is the specialty of the book. After reading this book, you will know how a complex subject can be made comprehensible in a simple and easy way.