Governance: India’s Achilles’ Heel in Achieving Economic Potential
India’s quest to reach its full economic potential is hindered by a fundamental weakness: the ineffectiveness of its governance system. This systemic shortcoming undermines the government’s ability to deliver essential services to its citizens, affecting sectors such as education, healthcare, and welfare.
In an interview with The Hindu, Karthik Muralidharan, professor of economics at the University of California San Diego, argues that investing in strengthening the capacity of the Indian state is crucial to overcoming this challenge. However, he points out that political incentives often work against such investments, as politicians tend to prioritize short-term gains over long-term development.
India’s unique situation as a large democracy with universal suffrage from its inception has exacerbated this issue. The state has faced pressure to provide welfare and redistribution services even before it had the fiscal and administrative capacity to do so. This has led to a ‘vote bank’ politics where politicians direct resources towards their supporters rather than creating broad-based public services.
Professor Muralidharan emphasizes the importance of independent institutions in aligning politicians’ interests with the public welfare. He cites the example of an independent central bank that can preserve the integrity of the currency. However, he notes that India has not invested in renewing its institutions, despite having established some outstanding ones in the past.
The author also highlights the role of strategic philanthropy in improving governance. He argues that philanthropists should go beyond traditional acts such as building schools and hospitals and focus on interventions that enhance the effectiveness of government spending. This could involve investing in programs that improve the delivery of education or healthcare services, yielding higher returns in the long run.
In conclusion, Professor Muralidharan stresses that building the capacity of the Indian state is essential for the country to reach its full economic potential. He calls for a shift in political incentives, the strengthening of institutions, and strategic philanthropic investments to overcome the challenges posed by weak governance.
