Tariff cuts in India reduced firms’ reliance on political connections, lowering politically driven misallocation and addressing a common source of inefficiency.
Voting rights alone did not transform political participation or competition in India, but they did shift government priorities in favour of the newly enfranchised voters.
Firm productivity rises in privately run Indian SEZs but stagnates in public ones, suggesting that political interference fuels rent-seeking behaviour.
Evidence from India and Pakistan shows that harnessing district officials’ local pollution incentives reduces crop fires by up to 14.5% and deters burns by a further 13%, significantly lowering infant and child mortality.
Can a small pilot project still be effective when scaled up to reach millions? New evidence shows digital advisory can help farmers who experience weather shocks to obtain higher yields.
Promoting sustained effortful mental activity in Indian primary schools markedly improved student cognitive and educational outcomes across a wide range of subjects.
An understudied approach to delivering clean water in rural India shows high take-up and substantial health and welfare benefits, offering actionable insights for improving access to clean water.
