Measuring performance: Ranking state success over two decades in India

TY - JOUR

T1 - Measuring performance

T2 - Ranking state success over two decades in India

AU - Afridi, Farzana

AU - Dhillon, Amrita

AU - Chaudhuri, Arka Roy

AU - Saattvic, null

PY - 2022/12/1

Y1 - 2022/12/1

N2 - This paper proposes new composite measures of relative and dynamic state performance to improve governance and delivery of public programs in developing countries with a federal structure. We illustrate the use of the indices to rank the performance of 19 major Indian states on two large development programs launched by the Indian government over the last two decades using publicly available data. Although we find volatility in performance over time, there exists a positive correlation between measures of initial (administrative) state capacity, development and accountability with program outcomes. Our findings have important implications for both the design and implementation of large-scale public programs across developing countries.

AB - This paper proposes new composite measures of relative and dynamic state performance to improve governance and delivery of public programs in developing countries with a federal structure. We illustrate the use of the indices to rank the performance of 19 major Indian states on two large development programs launched by the Indian government over the last two decades using publicly available data. Although we find volatility in performance over time, there exists a positive correlation between measures of initial (administrative) state capacity, development and accountability with program outcomes. Our findings have important implications for both the design and implementation of large-scale public programs across developing countries.

U2 - j.asieco.2022.101550

DO - j.asieco.2022.101550

M3 - Article

SN - 1049-0078

JO - Journal of Asian Economics

JF - Journal of Asian Economics

M1 - 101550

ER -