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Decentralisation, clientelism and social protection programmes: a study of India’s MGNREGA

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  • Diego Maiorano
  • Upasak Das
  • Silvia Masiero

Abstract

Does decentralisation promote clientelism? If yes, through which mechanisms? We answer these questions through an analysis of India’s (and the world’s) largest workfare programme, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), in two Indian states: Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh (AP). The two states adopted radically different implementation models: Rajasthan’s decentralised one stands in contrast with Andhra Pradesh’s centralised and bureaucracy-led model. Using a mixed method approach, we find that in both states local implementers have incentives to distribute MGNREGA work in a clientelistic fashion. However, in Rajasthan, these incentives are stronger, because of the decentralised implementation model. Accordingly, our quantitative evidence shows that clientelism is more serious a problem in Rajasthan than in AP.

Suggested Citation

  • Diego Maiorano & Upasak Das & Silvia Masiero, 2018. "Decentralisation, clientelism and social protection programmes: a study of India’s MGNREGA," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(4), pages 536-549, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:oxdevs:v:46:y:2018:i:4:p:536-549
    DOI: 10.1080/13600818.2018.1467391
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    Cited by:

    1. Prasenjit Sarkhel & Anirban Mukherjee, 2021. "Land Acquisition, Markets and Political Networks: Evidence from the Indian Sundarbans," Journal of South Asian Development, , vol. 16(2), pages 194-219, August.
    2. Dutta, Anwesha & Fischer, Harry W., 2021. "The local governance of COVID-19: Disease prevention and social security in rural India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    3. Kartik Misra, 2022. "No employment without participation: An evaluation of India's employment programme in eastern Uttar Pradesh," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 40(6), November.
    4. Danielle Resnick, 2022. "Does Accountability Undermine Service Delivery? The Impact of Devolving Agriculture in Ghana," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(2), pages 1003-1029, April.
    5. Sanjiv Kumar & S. Madheswaran & B. P. Vani, 2021. "Response of Poverty Pockets to the Right-based Demand-driven MGNREGA Programme," Review of Development and Change, , vol. 26(1), pages 5-24, June.
    6. Chau, Nancy H. & Liu, Yanyan & Soundararajan, Vidhya, 2021. "Political activism as a determinant of strategic transfers: Evidence from an indian public works program," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).

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