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Social Development in India 1255: The Politics of India Emily Clough and Roberto Foa
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Social Development Elements of a high quality of life that aren’t captured by GDP growth Equity and distribution (issues of inequality; who is included and who is excluded from benefits of growth) Provision of public services (education, health, infrastructure)
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Inequality and Income Distribution
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3 Stories of Inequality and Economic Growth StoryWhat happens?Who wins?
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StoryWhat happens?Who wins? Story 1: “A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats” Economy: grows Inequality: remains stable Poverty: reduced at the same rate rich people get richer. 3 Stories of Inequality and Economic Growth
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StoryWhat happens?Who wins? Story 1: “A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats” Economy: grows Inequality: remains stable Poverty: reduced at the same rate rich people get richer Economically: everyone wins Politically: hierarchy stays the same 3 Stories of Inequality and Economic Growth
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StoryWhat happens?Who wins? Story 1: “A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats” Economy: grows Inequality: remains stable Poverty: reduced at the same rate rich people get richer Economically: everyone wins Politically: hierarchy stays the same Story II: “A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats, But Some More Than Others” Economy: grows Inequality: grows Poverty: somewhat reduced, but at a slower rate than income increases among the rich Economically: everyone wins to some degree, but rich benefit more than poor Politically: disparities increase 3 Stories of Inequality and Economic Growth
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StoryWhat happens?Who wins? Story 1: “A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats” Economy: grows Inequality: remains stable Poverty: reduced at the same rate rich people get richer Economically: everyone wins Politically: hierarchy stays the same Story II: “A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats, But Some More Than Others” Economy: grows Inequality: grows Poverty: somewhat reduced, but at a slower rate than income increases among the rich Economically: everyone wins to some degree, but rich benefit more than poor Politically: disparities increase Story III: “A Rising Tide Lifts Only Some Boats” Economy: grows Inequality: grows Poverty: not significantly reduced Economically: richer people win Politically: disparities increase 3 Stories of Inequality and Economic Growth
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StoryWhat happens?Who wins? Story 1: “A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats” Economy: grows Inequality: remains stable Poverty: reduced at the same rate rich people get richer Economically: everyone wins Politically: hierarchy stays the same Story II: “A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats, But Some More Than Others” Economy: grows Inequality: grows Poverty: somewhat reduced, but at a slower rate than income increases among the rich Economically: everyone wins to some degree, but rich benefit more than poor Politically: disparities increase Story III: “A Rising Tide Lifts Only Some Boats” Economy: grows Inequality: grows Poverty: not significantly reduced Economically: richer people win Politically: disparities increase India lies somewhere between Story II and Story III 3 Stories of Inequality and Economic Growth
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Why has inequality increased?
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Growth beneficiaries: Income increases associated with economic growth may accrue to some sectors more than others (capitalist class vs. working class, industry & service sectors vs. agriculture) Text Why has inequality increased?
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Growth beneficiaries: Income increases associated with economic growth may accrue to some sectors more than others (capitalist class vs. working class, industry & service sectors vs. agriculture) Pro-business politics: Favoring interests of elite business class Failure to prioritize redistribution
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Education in India
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Education and Social Development Economic mobility Social mobility Political empowerment Economic growth?
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Educational outcomes in India
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Deficiencies in India’s Education System
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Accessibility (upper- primary) Quality of facilities and teaching supplies Teacher presence and quality Second track schooling Private school alternatives for wealthy Deficiencies in India’s Education System
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Accessibility (upper- primary) Quality of facilities and teaching supplies Teacher presence and quality Second track schooling Private school alternatives for wealthy Deficiencies in India’s Education System
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Accessibility (upper- primary) Quality of facilities and teaching supplies Teacher presence and quality Second track schooling Private school alternatives for wealthy Deficiencies in India’s Education System
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Accessibility (upper- primary) Quality of facilities and teaching supplies Teacher presence and quality Second track schooling Private school alternatives for wealthy Deficiencies in India’s Education System
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Accessibility (upper- primary) Quality of facilities and teaching supplies Teacher presence and quality Second track schooling Private school alternatives for wealthy Deficiencies in India’s Education System
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A Two-Part Puzzle: Supply and Demand Educational Supply: The State Educational Demand: Parents and Children
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Educational Supply: The State Rhetorical commitments on the part of politicians No corresponding facilities or expenditure Declining public expenditure on education: 4.4% in 1989 3.6% at end of 1990’s Political capture of the budget Failure to provide upper primary schools (accessibility) Top-down accountability failure because of entrenched interests
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Educational Demand: Parents and Children Myths: Lack of interest or demand Almost all surveyed parents in educationally backward regions said they consider it “important” for a child to be educated -- 98% for boys and 89% for girls) Child labor is preventing kids from going to school The majority of children who are not in school are not working all the time. Some are doing nothing; others are working part-time. It seems that child labor is not the main reason children do not attend school. Reality: “The Discouragement Effect” (Dreze & Sen)
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The “Discouragement Effect” and Bottom-Up Accountability The Discouragement Effect: Sending kids to school is costly School quality is low so not worth the cost Child interest inhibited by dull curricula, social and gender discrimination Bottom-up accountability Can be very effective Difficult to organize
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Policy Recommendations (Dreze & Sen) Educational improvement as a shared responsibility between state and parents Foster greater social mobilization among parents to increase bottom-up accountability Use parents as local agents of the state Education as a “fundamental right” of a child “Rights” language affects the sense of who is entitled to what, which affects democratic demands Compulsory education to prevent irresponsible parents from keeping child from school
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Gender Inequality and Women’s Agency
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Female lag in education School attendance Literacy
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Explaining the gender lag in education Gender division of labor Economic incentives for long-term investment on the part of girl’s family Norms of “marrying up” puts ceiling on female education
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Female-to-Male Population Ratio Declining: 0.97 in 1901 0.93 in 1991 One of the lowest FMRs in the world Female survival disadvantage in childhood exists, and seems to be getting worse Nutrition and care discrimination against girls Sex-selective abortion leads to lower female- male ratios at birth
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Which parts of the population are driving the FMR decline? Lower-caste communities Economic class Wealthier regions Lack of female agency
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Women’s Agency Protect daughters from discrimination Other social benefits, e.g. lower infant mortality; limiting fertility
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Policy Recommendations (Dreze & Sen) We need women’s movements and feminist activism Greater attention must be paid to women’s issues in policymaking
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