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Competition to Save Lives: Political competition and health outcomes in India

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  • Sandip Datta

Abstract

The literature argues that intense political competition may resultin a nation’s potential for increased welfare. We theoretically andempirically examine this proposition by linking political competitionto health outcomes in the Indian context. Theoretical analysissuggests that political competitiveness increases the probabilityof having better health outcomes. This analysis also identifiesthat rural areas benefit from more from political competition thanurban areas. In India, the majority of the population (around 70%)resides in rural areas and, therefore, the diversity of ex-ante viewsabout political parties is higher in rural areas compared to urbanareas. In such situations, as competition intensifies, the governmentallocates greater amounts of resources to rural areas to win theelection. Thus, as political competition increases, the probability ofhaving better health outcomes rise in rural areas at a higher rate ascompared to urban areas. Our empirical analysis also exhibits the same.

Suggested Citation

  • Sandip Datta, 2019. "Competition to Save Lives: Political competition and health outcomes in India," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(4), pages 391-405, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:oxdevs:v:47:y:2019:i:4:p:391-405
    DOI: 10.1080/13600818.2019.1645823
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    Cited by:

    1. Kailthya, Subham & Kambhampati, Uma, 2022. "Political competition and public healthcare: Evidence from India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    2. Stanley L. Winer & J. Stephen Ferris & Bharatee Bhusana Dash & Pinaki Chakraborty, 2021. "Political competitiveness and the private–public structure of public expenditure: a model and empirics for the Indian States," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 28(6), pages 1430-1471, December.
    3. Bessho, S., 2023. "Elections and COVID-19 benefit payments," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).

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