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Federalism and economic development in India: An assessment

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  • Singh, Nirvikar
  • Srinivasan, T.N.

Abstract

This paper examines India’s federal system in the context of prospects for India’s future economic growth and development. After a brief review of India’s recent policy reforms and economic development outcomes, and of the country’s federal institutions, the analysis focuses on the major issues with respect to India’s federal system in terms of their developmental consequences. We examine the impacts of tax assignments, expenditure authority and the intergovernmental transfer system on the following aspects of India’s economy and economic performance: the quality of governance and government expenditure, the efficiency of the tax system, the fiscal health of different tiers of government, and the impacts on growth and on regional inequality. In each case, we discuss recent and possible policy reforms. We make comparisons with China’s federal system where this is instructive for analyzing the Indian case. Finally, we provide a discussion of potential reforms of aspects of India’s federal institutions.

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  • Singh, Nirvikar & Srinivasan, T.N., 2006. "Federalism and economic development in India: An assessment," MPRA Paper 12452, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised Aug 2008.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:12452
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    Cited by:

    1. Boris I. Alekhin, 2020. "Regional Tax Autonomy and Budget Balances," Finansovyj žhurnal — Financial Journal, Financial Research Institute, Moscow 125375, Russia, issue 5, pages 114-127, October.
    2. Han, Li & Kung, James Kai-Sing, 2015. "Fiscal incentives and policy choices of local governments: Evidence from China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 89-104.
    3. Jean-François BRUN & Maria EL KHDARI, 2016. "The Incentive Effects of Conditional and Unconditional Transfers on Local Own Revenue Generation: Empirical Evidence from Moroccan Municipalities," Working Papers 201606, CERDI.
    4. Singh, Nirvikar, 2006. "Services-Led Industrialization in India: Assessment and Lessons," Santa Cruz Department of Economics, Working Paper Series qt8jn2b8z6, Department of Economics, UC Santa Cruz.
    5. Boris I. Alekhin, 2020. "Vertical Fiscal Imbalance and Regional Economic Growth," Finansovyj žhurnal — Financial Journal, Financial Research Institute, Moscow 125375, Russia, issue 6, pages 39-53, December.
    6. Nirvikar Singh, 2007. "The dynamics of reform of India’s federal system," CESifo Forum, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 8(01), pages 22-31, April.
    7. Abhishek Anand & Lekha S. Chakraborty, 2016. "'Engendering' Intergovernmental Transfers: Is There a Case for Gender-sensitive Horizontal Fiscal Equalization?," Economics Working Paper Archive wp_874, Levy Economics Institute.
    8. Sorens, Jason, 2016. "Vertical Fiscal Gaps and Economic Performance: A Theoretical Review and an Empirical Meta-analysis," Working Papers 06856, George Mason University, Mercatus Center.
    9. Yongzheng Liu & Hang Tai & Chenping Yang, 2020. "Fiscal incentives and local tax competition: Evidence from China," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(12), pages 3340-3356, December.
    10. Isaac Otoo & Michael Danquah, 2021. "Fiscal decentralization and efficiency of public services delivery by local governments in Ghana," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 33(3), pages 411-425, September.
    11. Yongzheng Liu & Bingyang Lv & Hang Tai & Chenping Yang, 2018. "Fiscal Incentives and Local Tax Competition: Evidence from China," International Center for Public Policy Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper1817, International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.
    12. Economou, Emmanouel/Marios/Lazaros & Kyriazis, Nicholas, 2014. "Achaeans, Indians and Europeans: A Comparison of federations," MPRA Paper 57289, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Rongili Biswas & Sugata Marjit & Velayoudom Marimoutou, 2010. "Fiscal Federalism, State Lobbying And Discretionary Finance: Evidence From India," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(1), pages 68-91, March.
    14. Weingast, Barry R., 2009. "Second generation fiscal federalism: The implications of fiscal incentives," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(3), pages 279-293, May.
    15. Singh, Nirvikar, 2006. "Services-Led Industrialization in India: Assessment and Lessons," Santa Cruz Department of Economics, Working Paper Series qt8jn2b8z6, Department of Economics, UC Santa Cruz.
    16. Bharatee Dash & Angara Raja, 2014. "Do political determinants affect revenue collection? Evidence from the Indian states," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 61(3), pages 253-278, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    India; China; federalism; economic development; fiscal federalism; intergovernmental transfers; decentralization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H1 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • H7 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations
    • P35 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - Public Finance
    • H5 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies
    • H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • P26 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Property Rights
    • H6 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt

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