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Political Economy of Sanitation in India

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  • Anurag N Banerjee

    (University of Durham)

  • Nilanjan Banik

    (Mahindra University)

  • Pranjal Chandrakar

    (Mahindra University)

Abstract

We model the implementation of India's federal sanitation initiative (Swachh Bharat Mission or SBM) within its devolved, competitive multiparty democracy, characterized by intense regional electoral competition. The success of SBM depends on social and physical capital provided by the federal government but executed by the regional authorities. Through a political thought experiment, we analyze the impact of changes in the regional governance model. Transitioning from federally aligned to non-aligned political parties (or vice versa) results in a 1.7% decrease (or 2.0% increase) in household toilet access, with the least wealthy (bottom 10%) disproportionately affected. Regional trends in sanitation-related diseases empirically corroborate these findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Anurag N Banerjee & Nilanjan Banik & Pranjal Chandrakar, 2025. "Political Economy of Sanitation in India," Department of Economics Working Papers 2025_02, Durham University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:dur:durham:2025_02
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anand Asthana, 1997. "Where the Water is Free but the Buckets are Empty: Demand Analysis of Drinking Water in Rural India," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 8(2), pages 137-149, April.
    2. Spears, Dean, 2020. "Exposure to open defecation can account for the Indian enigma of child height," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
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    JEL classification:

    • C5 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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