Political Ideology, Public Policy and Human Development in India: Explaining the Gap Between Gujarat and Tamil Nadu

Publication Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

7-2015

Abstract

Four decades ago the Indian states of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu had identical scores on the human development index. Both states have since experienced similar rates of economic growth and Gujarat has received more foreign investment, but Tamil Nadu has witnessed much stronger advances in human development. What explains this divergence? Through comparative historical, statistical and public policy analysis and interviews, we conclude that the implementation of government policies as a manifestation of political ideology and the quality of public administration have played a defining role in explaining Gujarat's more lopsided and Tamil Nadu's more balanced human development trajectories. Our findings suggest that a more egalitarian ideology and higher quality of public administration have been crucial to Tamil Nadu's success in simultaneously improving human and economic development.

Keywords

government, Gujarat, Human development, ideology, public administration, Tamil Nadu, public action

Discipline

Asian Studies | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration

Research Areas

Political Science

Publication

Journal of Contemporary Asia

Volume

45

Issue

3

First Page

465

Last Page

489

ISSN

0047-2336

Identifier

10.1080/00472336.2014.1003392

Publisher

Taylor & Francis (Routledge): SSH Titles

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1080/00472336.2014.1003392

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