Preferential Resource Spending under an Employment Guarantee: The Political Economy of MGNREGS in Andhra Pradesh

摘要: Are ostensibly demand-driven public works programs with high levels of safeguards nonetheless susceptible to political influence? This conjecture is investigated using expenditure data at the local level from India's National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Focusing on one state where accountability and transparency mechanisms have been employed implementation efforts widely applauded, there no evidence partisan-influenced spending before 2009 election however a statistically significant but small in magnitude effect after election. Most variation expenditures explained by observed needs potential beneficiaries, as scheme intended.