“Studies have highlighted the role of electoral competition in directing the flow of public funds. Analysing data from India, this column finds lower income inequality and polarisation in tightly contested constituencies, implying that the poor gain more from electoral competition relative to the rich.
Accountability is central to the concept of democracy. Elected politicians are answerable to their constituencies. Moreover, they have the authority and wherewithal to affect the economic conditions of the citizens in the constituencies. This is because political power necessarily comes with some control of the purse strings: targeting of government schemes (be it welfare or employment generation or poverty alleviation), and provision of local public goods and services (health facilities, schools, road construction, public lighting, etc.). While the former can directly influence the economic prosperity of citizens, the latter does so in more indirect and subtle ways…”
This is an excerpt from an article published inIdeas for India2016年11月9日由学校的Dr Anirban MitraandDr Shabana Mitraof the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore.
这篇文章肌萎缩性侧索硬化症o appeared in India’sBusiness Standardon 8 November 20176.