Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/101903 
Year of Publication: 
2014
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 8387
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This paper examines the relationship between elected minority representatives, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and health worker visits in rural India. We estimate the effect of minority representation on the frequency of visits to villages by health workers by exploiting the state variation in the share of seats reserved for the two groups in state legislative assemblies mandated by the Constitution of India. Using data from state and village level surveys on fifteen major Indian states, we find that Schedule Tribe representatives increase the frequency of visits by both doctors and mobile medical units. On the other hand, Scheduled Caste representatives have a tendency to decrease the frequency of visits by mobile medical units. Potential explanations for the differential impact of SC and ST representatives are also explored, including geographic isolation, support for the Congress Party, and relative population shares.
Subjects: 
health
minorities
affirmative action
public goods provision
India
JEL: 
I18
I38
J15
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
822.19 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.