{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.018485915492957746, 'fraction_numerical': 0.007042253521126761, 'mean_word_length': 4.860824742268041, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
VIII. The Depression, 1930–1935: Its Effects on India and Indonesia

This essay attempts to analyse the differential effects of the Great Depression on two very dissimilar economies bound only by the commonality of colonial overlordship. Though the motivation was noble enough, the quality and quantity of research that went into making this article has been well below par. For the Indonesian section, I was particularly hamstrung by my total ignorance of the Dutch language and also of the subtle intersectoral nuances of the economy. What I say about the archipelago is, therefore, much in the nature of broad, indicative statements culled from the data and interpretations available in English. Even these I say with all manners of qualification. This exercise in comparative economic history was thrust upon me in order to broaden my knowledge of other things in the universe. Perhaps, at the end of it all, I have become a trifle more knowledgeable. Nevertheless, writing this essay constantly reminded me of Daniel as he faced the lions: he was doing an extremely foolhardy thing under severe duress and with prayers on his lips.