Karnik, Ajit creator text xu| 2002 continuing ng p.2059-064. Political obstacles to the reforms process is a genuine problem in most reforming economies. Such obstacles, it is feared, shackle a reforming government, which is then unable to complete the reforms agenda. This paper argues that the magnitude of political economy problems may be exaggerated and that a way out of the impasse is possible. An approach to political calculus is developed that sets out the conditions under which broad-based reforms may be introduced by the government without electoral dangers. This approach is tested using Indian data. - Reproduced. Economic reform Economic and Political Weekly 180718