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Inequality in policy implementation: caste and electrification in rural India

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  • Aklin, Michaël
  • Cheng, Chao-Yo
  • Urpelainen, Johannes

Abstract

We examine unequal outcomes in the implementation of India’s national rural electrification program in Uttar Pradesh. We ask two questions: (1) to what extent did Dalits, the lowest group in India’s caste hierarchy, receive less attention when the state electrified rural communities? (2) Was BSP, the state’s Dalit party, able to reduce this inequality? Using data from a hundred thousand villages, we provide robust evidence for unequal outcomes. Villages inhabited solely by Dalits were 20 percentage points less likely to be covered by the program than villages without any Dalits. Moreover, a regression discontinuity analysis shows that the electoral success of BSP failed to reduce such differences. These results highlight the magnitude and persistence of caste inequality in the implementation of democratic public policy, despite political representation.

Suggested Citation

  • Aklin, Michaël & Cheng, Chao-Yo & Urpelainen, Johannes, 2021. "Inequality in policy implementation: caste and electrification in rural India," Journal of Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 41(2), pages 331-359, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jnlpup:v:41:y:2021:i:2:p:331-359_6
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    Cited by:

    1. Missbach, Leonard & Steckel, Jan Christoph & Vogt-Schilb, Adrien, 2024. "Cash transfers in the context of carbon pricing reforms in Latin America and the Caribbean," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    2. Suryadeepto Nag & David I. Stern, 2023. "Are the benefits of electrification realized only in the long run? Evidence from rural India," Departmental Working Papers 2023-08, The Australian National University, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics.
    3. Nag, Suryadeepto, 2024. "Does reliable electricity mean lesser agricultural labor wages? Evidence from Indian villages," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    4. Andlib, Zubaria & Sadiq, Maqsood & Scicchitano, Sergio, 2024. "Intergenerational (im)mobility in Pakistan: Is the social elevator broken?," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1367, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    5. Sedai, Ashish Kumar & Jamasb, Tooraj & Nepal, Rabindra & Miller, Ray, 2021. "Electrification and welfare for the marginalized: Evidence from India," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    6. Rahut, Dil Bahadur & Aryal, Jeetendra Prakash & Manchanda, Navneet & Sonobe, Tetsushi, 2024. "Examining energy justice: Empirical analysis of clean cooking transition across social groups in India, 2004–2018," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    7. Suryadeepto Nag, 2023. "Does Reliable Electricity Mean Lesser Agricultural Labor Wages? Evidence from Indian Villages," Papers 2309.09178, arXiv.org.
    8. Maruejols, Lucie & Höschle, Lisa & Yu, Xiaohua, 2022. "Vietnam between economic growth and ethnic divergence: A LASSO examination of income-mediated energy consumption," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    9. Akter, Sonia & Mathew, Nikhitha Mary & Fila, Marian Edward, 2023. "The impact of an improvement in the quality and reliability of rural residential electricity supply on clean cooking fuel adoption: Evidence from six energy poor Indian states," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).

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