Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/316730 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 17775
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
We examine the impact of rural road connectivity on economic and social outcomes in the context of India's PMGSY, the world's largest rural road program. Using a novel village-level survey explicitly designed around PMGSY's rollout, we exploit quasi-random variation in road placement to estimate causal effects. We find that roads increase producer prices by 1.4 SD, reduce consumer prices by 0.6 SD, shift labor from agriculture to local casual work, and decrease short-term migration. Additionally, road connectivity improves governance, delays marriages, and improves wedding quality. Our findings highlight the role of infrastructure in shaping rural economies and social institutions.
Subjects: 
migration
wages
prices
PMGSY
rural roads
India
JEL: 
I15
J43
O12
O18
R23
R42
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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