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The pandemic and the state: Interrogating capacity and response to COVID-19 in West Bengal

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  • Zaad Mahmood
  • Achin Chakraborty

Abstract

COVID-19 has brought to the fore the issue of state preparedness in mitigating health emergencies. This paper problematizes the received wisdom of greater state capacity in mitigating the severity of the pandemic. Based on a case study of West Bengal, a subnational state of India, it shows that measures of state capacity do not map onto the pandemic response and outcomes very clearly. The three components of state capacity, namely authority, capacity, and legitimacy, show significant variation during the pandemic response.

Suggested Citation

  • Zaad Mahmood & Achin Chakraborty, 2022. "The pandemic and the state: Interrogating capacity and response to COVID-19 in West Bengal," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2022-89, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2022-89
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jayati Ghosh, 2020. "A critique of the Indian government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 47(3), pages 519-530, September.
    2. Rajkumar, Andrew Sunil & Swaroop, Vinaya, 2008. "Public spending and outcomes: Does governance matter?," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(1), pages 96-111, April.
    3. Khemani,Stuti, 2019. "What Is State Capacity ?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 8734, The World Bank.
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