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Application for social programs: the role of local politics and caste networks in affirmative action in India

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  • Véronique Gille

    (DIAL, UMR 225, IRD, Paris, France, PSL Research University, Université Paris-Dauphine, LEDa, Paris, France)

Abstract

India’s affirmative action programs are among the largest in the world. In the public sector, up to 49.5% of the jobs are reserved for low castes. However, the recruitment is highly discretionary, so it is difficult for low-castes without connections to access these jobs and thereby benefit from affirmative action. This paper studies the impact of having someone from the same caste as local elected leader on the probability of applying for jobs reserved for low castes in the public sector in India. The identification strategy exploits the political reservation system at the village level that determines the caste group of the person in power. Using data from three States in South India, I find that households are more likely to apply when the village council president is from their caste group. The evidence suggests that the impact comes from the council president using his connections to help his caste-fellows.

Suggested Citation

  • Véronique Gille, 2016. "Application for social programs: the role of local politics and caste networks in affirmative action in India," Working Papers DT/2016/13, DIAL (Développement, Institutions et Mondialisation).
    • Handle: RePEc:dia:wpaper:dt201613
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Girard, Victoire, 2018. "Don’t Touch My Road. Evidence from India on Affirmative Action And Everyday Discrimination," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 1-13.
    2. Munshi, K., 2017. "Caste and the Indian Economy," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 1759, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    India; affirmative action; caste; political reservations;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • P48 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Legal Institutions; Property Rights; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Regional Studies

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