Participatory democracy in action: survey evidence from South India
Besley, T.
, Pande, R. & Rao, V.
(2005).
Participatory democracy in action: survey evidence from South India.
Journal of the European Economic Association,
3(2-3), 648-657.
https://doi.org/10.1162/jeea.2005.3.2-3.648
, Pande, R. & Rao, V.
(2005).
Participatory democracy in action: survey evidence from South India.
Journal of the European Economic Association,
3(2-3), 648-657.
https://doi.org/10.1162/jeea.2005.3.2-3.648
We use household and village survey data from South India to examine who participates in village meetings called by elected local governments, and what effect these meetings have on beneficiary selection for welfare programs. Our main finding is that it is the more disadvantaged social groups who attend village meetings and that holding such meetings improves the targeting of resources towards the neediest groups.