72 SOCIAL -SIGIENTICT At present the profits earned are only around Rs 100 crores, If they are made to yield a 10 per cent return on capital employed the surpluses earned from them will at least be Rs 600 crores per annum. At the modest reckoning of theRaj Committee, agriculture could be made to yield at least Rs 150 crores more through the Agricultural Holdings Tax. If, despite all this potential, Indian economic development is constrained by inade* quate resource mobilisation it is because of the inherent contradictions of the mixed economy in operation and the corrupt political superstructure it breeds and sustains. The mixture we have, leaves all the lucrative centres of profits in the hands of a small minority of landlords and big' business which has to be allured through higher and higher profits; has to be induced through fiscal incentives and supported through highly subsidised infrastructural services and other inputs. Even luxury consumption and imports are regarded as incentive goods. It is this system which corrupts and incapacitates the political and administrative superstructure and renders it incapable of mobilising resources and using them efficiently. Unfortunately, the six economists have shown an indifference to these basic problems of political economy and have satisfied their conscience by a bland statement that "no amount of logic or social concern can bring results unless a vigorous attempt is made to eliminate corruption and nepotism at various levels^and the most stringent action taken against violators of price control measures, blackmarketeers and tax evaders". They feel that the government has ample legal and other instruments at its disposal for dealing with those who are constantly breaking the economic laws and setting at naught its attempts at restoring health to the economy. But they have failed to do so because India is a "soft state". A good scapegoat indeed ! Instead of suggesting measures to grapple with blackmoney the six economists have launched an attack on price controls as the real culprit behind the blackmarket. They argue that "the economic laws that govern micro-prices are essentially the laws of supply and demand and their relevant elasticities; and these need to be taken into account when we resort to price control both in respect of the commodities to be selected for control and the levels at which we want to fix their prices below their free market price". Stretched to its logical ends, this line of approach would lead to a complete decontrol of all commodities. Because, all price controls are meant to suppress inflation. However, the six economists have restricted their prescription to decontrol of cars and scooters, cement, steel, stainless steel, etc which are largely in the nature of luxury consumption. At the same time, they seem to favour a narrowing down of the gap between market and controlled price even with regard to essential commodities : (a) By enhancing the retention price allowed to the producer, who will then go on to produce more, provided inputs are available; (b) By enhancing the indirect taxation which accrues to the government and then can be ploughed back'into investment activity in the