Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/110747 
Year of Publication: 
2015
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 9023
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Despite theoretical advances, measurement issues have impeded empirical research on aspirations. We quantify political aspirations in a developing country by estimating individuals' willingness to trade-off family size for political candidacy. Utilizing quasi-experimental variation in legal fertility limits on village council members in India, we find that at least 2.21% of married couples of childbearing age altered their fertility to remain eligible for council membership. This implies that returns to local leadership in low-income democracies are potentially high. Poorer, less educated, and lower-caste families display strong political aspirations, thereby lowering the extent of elite-capture at the local level of governance.
Subjects: 
India
Panchayat elections
political aspirations
fertility limits
sex ratios
JEL: 
J13
J16
H75
O11
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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