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Effects of election and natural disaster mortality on calamity relief spending in India

Author

Listed:
  • Yashobanta Parida

    (FLAME University)

  • Joyita Roy Chowdhury

    (FLAME University)

Abstract

Frequent occurrences of natural disasters and disaster-related deaths affect government responsiveness to disasters. This study examines how disaster mortality disaggregated by gender and upcoming state elections affected per capita calamity relief spending for Indian states from 1972 to 2019. The results suggest that calamity relief spending increased significantly when more women were killed than men due to disasters, particularly nearer state elections. Furthermore, an increase in female electoral turnout, compared to men, has also contributed to increased expenditure on calamity relief. The implementation of gender-responsive budget allocations and rising female voter participation may explain why the Indian government prioritizes female well-being. Consequently, public spending on calamity relief is more responsive to female disaster mortality. Our results remain robust across different econometric models.

Suggested Citation

  • Yashobanta Parida & Joyita Roy Chowdhury, 2025. "Effects of election and natural disaster mortality on calamity relief spending in India," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 26(1), pages 93-138, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ecogov:v:26:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s10101-025-00324-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10101-025-00324-4
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    State Elections; Gender-disaggregated disaster mortality; Calamity relief spending; Two-way fixed effect estimates; Hausman & Taylor estimates;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State
    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

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