Religion, politician identity and development outcomes: Evidence from India

Sonia Bhalotra, Irma Clots-Figueras, Guilhem Cassan and Lakshmi Iyer

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2014, vol. 104, issue C, 4-17

Abstract: This paper investigates whether the religious identity of state legislators in India influences development outcomes, both for citizens of their religious group and for the population as a whole. Using an instrumental variables approach derived from a regression discontinuity, we find that increasing the political representation of Muslims improves health and education outcomes in the district from which the legislator is elected. We find no evidence of religious favoritism: Muslim children do not benefit more from Muslim political representation than children from other religious groups.

Keywords: Religion; Politician identity; Infant mortality; Primary education; India; Muslim (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H41 I15 J13 P16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (41)

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Related works:
Chapter: Religion, Politician Identity and Development Outcomes: Evidence from India (2013)
Working Paper: Religion, Politician Identity and Development Outcomes: Evidence from India (2013)
Working Paper: Religion, Politician Identity and Development Outcomes: Evidence from India (2013)
Working Paper: Religion, Politician Identity and Development Outcomes:Evidence from India (2013)
Working Paper: Religion, Politician Identity and Development Outcomes: Evidence from India (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:104:y:2014:i:c:p:4-17

DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2013.09.006

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