Sonia Bhalotra
University of Bristol
Abstract:
(1) Politician Identity and Religious Conflict in India This paper investigates the impact of Muslim political representation on religious conflict in India during 1980-2007. We code religion from name and construct updated conflict data from Times of India archives. The analysis is currently conducted at the district level. We instrument the share of Muslims elected to state assemblies from the index district with the share of Muslims who won against non-Muslims in close elections in that district. Preliminary results suggest that raising the share of Muslim politicians in state assemblies results in a sizeable decline in the incidence of Hindu- Muslim riots, consistent with evidence that Muslims are more often the victims of such incidents. A significant but small part of the total effect appears to arise from positive selection of minority leaders. Our results are consistent with parochial politics and with theories that indicate the relevance of political identity for policy outcomes (Besley and Coate, 1997). They also suggests a cause of conflict, and hence a solution for the control of conflict, that has not been previously considered in the conflict literature.
(2) Religion, Political Identity and Public Health Delivery This paper analyzes whether the religious identity of political leaders in India influences policy-determined variation in health outcomes, both for citizens of their religious group and for the population as a whole. In order to analyze the causal effect of the religious identity of politicians, we take advantage of the fact that some Muslim politicians contested in close elections against non-Muslim politicians. Results show that the presence of Muslim politicians significantly reduces infant and neonatal mortality, consistent with positive selection of Muslim candidates in constituencies in which Muslims have a population minority (Banerjee and Pande 2007). We do not find evidence of religious favoritism: Muslims and non-Muslims benefit equally from the presence of Muslim politicians.
Date: April 20, 2012
Time: 11:30 A.M.
Venue:
Seminar Room 2
Indian Statistical Institute Delhi Centre,
7, S. J. S. Sansanwal Marg,
New Delhi-110016 (INDIA)
Location:
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Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
20 April 2012: Rural Cooperative Banking System in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa: Insights from an Impact Evaluation of the Vaidyanathan Committee Task Force Recommendations
Xavier Gine and Tara Vishwanath
World Bank
Abstract:
In recent years, primary agricultural credit societies
(PACS) have been subject to a massive recapitalization under the
Vaidyanathan Committee Task Force recommendations and the loan waiver
of 2008. As a result, they may end up playing a larger role in the
provision of financial services for the poor. Using survey data
collected in 2007 and 2009 from six districts in Andhra Pradesh and
Orissa, this paper assesses the performance of 140 primary
agricultural credit cooperatives on management practices, personnel,
client performance and growth.
Date: April 20, 2012
Time: 12:30 P.M.
Venue:
Second Floor Conference Room
The World Bank,
70 Lodi Estate,
New Delhi-110003(INDIA)
Location:
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Note:
Please confirm your attendance by mail to Jyoti Sriram at
jsriram@worldbank.org by thursday, April 19th.
World Bank
Abstract:
In recent years, primary agricultural credit societies
(PACS) have been subject to a massive recapitalization under the
Vaidyanathan Committee Task Force recommendations and the loan waiver
of 2008. As a result, they may end up playing a larger role in the
provision of financial services for the poor. Using survey data
collected in 2007 and 2009 from six districts in Andhra Pradesh and
Orissa, this paper assesses the performance of 140 primary
agricultural credit cooperatives on management practices, personnel,
client performance and growth.
Date: April 20, 2012
Time: 12:30 P.M.
Venue:
Second Floor Conference Room
The World Bank,
70 Lodi Estate,
New Delhi-110003(INDIA)
Location:
View Larger Map
Note:
Please confirm your attendance by mail to Jyoti Sriram at
jsriram@worldbank.org by thursday, April 19th.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
13 April 2012: Migration and Poverty: Evidence from a 30-Year Longitudinal Study Using the ICRISAT Village Level Studies (VLS)
Stefan Dercon
Department for International Development (DFID)
Abstract:
This research is based on newly available survey rounds of the ICRISAT VLS from 2005–06, and a tracking survey of all individuals who used to be in the original sample from the six core ICRISAT VLS in 1975–84 and have now migrated. The resulting 30-year longitudinal dataset has been used to assess how migration has affected the living standards of these individuals, compared to those that stay behind from the same families. Using a comprehensive consumption measure and adjusted for differential cost of living, the study finds considerable increases in the standard of living for most in the sample. The results also indicate a considerable premium for those who have migrated permanently, compared to their relatives who stayed behind. However, no differences are found when focusing on subjective welfare indicators. The study offers a theoretical risk-sharing framework to interpret these findings.
Date: 13 April, 2012
Time: 11:00 A.M.
Venue:
NCAER Conference Room
National Council of Applied Economic Research
Parisila Bhawan, 11, Indraprastha Estate
New Delhi-110002(INDIA)
Location:
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Note:
For queries, please contact Ms Sudesh Bala at sbala@ncaer.org or on 011-2345-2669.
Department for International Development (DFID)
Abstract:
This research is based on newly available survey rounds of the ICRISAT VLS from 2005–06, and a tracking survey of all individuals who used to be in the original sample from the six core ICRISAT VLS in 1975–84 and have now migrated. The resulting 30-year longitudinal dataset has been used to assess how migration has affected the living standards of these individuals, compared to those that stay behind from the same families. Using a comprehensive consumption measure and adjusted for differential cost of living, the study finds considerable increases in the standard of living for most in the sample. The results also indicate a considerable premium for those who have migrated permanently, compared to their relatives who stayed behind. However, no differences are found when focusing on subjective welfare indicators. The study offers a theoretical risk-sharing framework to interpret these findings.
Date: 13 April, 2012
Time: 11:00 A.M.
Venue:
NCAER Conference Room
National Council of Applied Economic Research
Parisila Bhawan, 11, Indraprastha Estate
New Delhi-110002(INDIA)
Location:
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Note:
For queries, please contact Ms Sudesh Bala at sbala@ncaer.org or on 011-2345-2669.
Monday, April 9, 2012
12 April 2012: What Do Cartel Ringleaders Do? EC Cartels 1990-2008
Oindrila De
Indian Institute of Management, Indore
Abstract:
The concept of the ringleader within a cartel has specific legal relevance, especially concerning fines and leniency. While the economic theory of cartels rarely attributes any well defined meaning to the term ringleader, it does imply the sorts of roles that the ringleader might assume – facilitating information sharing and coordination, and helping to reconcile the potentially asymmetric incentives of cartel members by accommodating and/or enforcing. This paper uses a sample of 89 EC cartels to establish how far the roles of ringleaders identified by the competition authority can be interpreted as the means by which the cartels attempt to solve the ‘cartel problem(s). It employs two approaches. The first is based on close readings of the European Commission’s decision documents; the second is more indirect, entailing logit analysis which predicts whether there is a ringleader in any particular case in terms of the internal structure of the cartel. The main findings are that: only 1 in 5 cartels involves a ringleader; they only occur in cartels which fix price; and they are most likely in cartels which have more firms, who display larger size asymmetries. The latter result is consistent with collusion theory, in that problems of coordination and the necessity for potential enforcement are likely to be greatest where more firms are involved, especially where they are asymmetric.
One other interesting finding is that there appears to be two broad types of ringleader. In most cases, the ringleader has a potentially aggressive function – leading on price and/or punishing (or threatening to punish) deviation. But in some cases, its functions seem to be restricted to just the facilitating activities of organisation and managing information exchange. On the latter functions, there are sometimes alternative mechanisms used – rather than having a ringleader, the cartel is able to employ a trade association for this purpose.
Date: April 12, 2012
Time: 03:00 P.M.
Venue:
AMEX Conference Room (Second Floor)
Department of Economics,
Delhi School of Economics,
New Delhi-110007(INDIA)
Location:
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Indian Institute of Management, Indore
Abstract:
The concept of the ringleader within a cartel has specific legal relevance, especially concerning fines and leniency. While the economic theory of cartels rarely attributes any well defined meaning to the term ringleader, it does imply the sorts of roles that the ringleader might assume – facilitating information sharing and coordination, and helping to reconcile the potentially asymmetric incentives of cartel members by accommodating and/or enforcing. This paper uses a sample of 89 EC cartels to establish how far the roles of ringleaders identified by the competition authority can be interpreted as the means by which the cartels attempt to solve the ‘cartel problem(s). It employs two approaches. The first is based on close readings of the European Commission’s decision documents; the second is more indirect, entailing logit analysis which predicts whether there is a ringleader in any particular case in terms of the internal structure of the cartel. The main findings are that: only 1 in 5 cartels involves a ringleader; they only occur in cartels which fix price; and they are most likely in cartels which have more firms, who display larger size asymmetries. The latter result is consistent with collusion theory, in that problems of coordination and the necessity for potential enforcement are likely to be greatest where more firms are involved, especially where they are asymmetric.
One other interesting finding is that there appears to be two broad types of ringleader. In most cases, the ringleader has a potentially aggressive function – leading on price and/or punishing (or threatening to punish) deviation. But in some cases, its functions seem to be restricted to just the facilitating activities of organisation and managing information exchange. On the latter functions, there are sometimes alternative mechanisms used – rather than having a ringleader, the cartel is able to employ a trade association for this purpose.
Date: April 12, 2012
Time: 03:00 P.M.
Venue:
AMEX Conference Room (Second Floor)
Department of Economics,
Delhi School of Economics,
New Delhi-110007(INDIA)
Location:
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Tuesday, March 27, 2012
4 April 2012: Does Central Bank Reserve Accumulation Lead to Higher Currency-Risk Taking in the Corporate Sector? Micro Evidence for Latin America
Rajeswari Sengupta
Institute for Financial Management & Research (IFMR)
Abstract:
In recent years, central banks in emerging markets have accumulated large amounts of foreign exchange reserves. For many countries, a key intent has been to increase the resilience of their economies to a possible sudden stop in capital inflows. Yet such policies may have the undesired effect of increasing corporate sector vulnerability: foreign exchange hoarding can be perceived as a free insurance against short term movements of the exchange rate, leading firms to borrow excessively in foreign currency. We investigate this possibility by using a novel firm-level balance sheet database for close to 1500 firms between 1995 and 2007 in six Latin American economies, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. Results suggest that over the sample period, an increase in the level of reserves is statistically and economically associated with an increase in the dollar borrowing of non-financial sector firms of these economies. We investigate several potential explanations for this result, and find evidence that at least part of this positive correlation reflects greater corporate risk taking as a causal response to an improvement in a country's reserve buffers against external shocks. These findings suggest that central banks, while formulating their foreign exchange intervention policies, may need to take into consideration the impact of reserve accumulation on firms incentive to hedge exchange rate risk.
Date: April 4, 2012
Time: 03:00 P.M.
Venue:
AMEX Conference Room (Second Floor)
Department of Economics,
Delhi School of Economics,
New Delhi-110007(INDIA)
Location:
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Institute for Financial Management & Research (IFMR)
Abstract:
In recent years, central banks in emerging markets have accumulated large amounts of foreign exchange reserves. For many countries, a key intent has been to increase the resilience of their economies to a possible sudden stop in capital inflows. Yet such policies may have the undesired effect of increasing corporate sector vulnerability: foreign exchange hoarding can be perceived as a free insurance against short term movements of the exchange rate, leading firms to borrow excessively in foreign currency. We investigate this possibility by using a novel firm-level balance sheet database for close to 1500 firms between 1995 and 2007 in six Latin American economies, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. Results suggest that over the sample period, an increase in the level of reserves is statistically and economically associated with an increase in the dollar borrowing of non-financial sector firms of these economies. We investigate several potential explanations for this result, and find evidence that at least part of this positive correlation reflects greater corporate risk taking as a causal response to an improvement in a country's reserve buffers against external shocks. These findings suggest that central banks, while formulating their foreign exchange intervention policies, may need to take into consideration the impact of reserve accumulation on firms incentive to hedge exchange rate risk.
Date: April 4, 2012
Time: 03:00 P.M.
Venue:
AMEX Conference Room (Second Floor)
Department of Economics,
Delhi School of Economics,
New Delhi-110007(INDIA)
Location:
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Friday, March 23, 2012
27 March 2012: Do departures from Democratic Accountability Compromise the Stability of Public Finances?
Stanley L. Winer
Caleton University, Canada
Date: March 27, 2012
Time: 10:00 A.M.
Venue:
NIPFP Conference Room, Ground Floor, New Building
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy,
18/2 Satsang Vihar Marg, Special Institutional Area,
New Delhi-110067(INDIA)
Location:
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Caleton University, Canada
Date: March 27, 2012
Time: 10:00 A.M.
Venue:
NIPFP Conference Room, Ground Floor, New Building
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy,
18/2 Satsang Vihar Marg, Special Institutional Area,
New Delhi-110067(INDIA)
Location:
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Tuesday, March 20, 2012
20 March 2012: The Asian Century and the G20: An Australian Perspective on a Changing World
Gordon de Brouwer
Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Australia
Abstract:
The 2012 Sir John Crawford Lecture marks the Australia-India Council's 20th anniversary. Established in 2001, the Sir John Crawford Lecture Series provides a forum for eminent Australians to deliver lectures in India on topics of common public interest. It aims at exchange of expertise and promotion of professional links and understanding between the two countries. A joint initiative of the Australia-India Council and the National Council of Applied Economic Research, the lecture series commemorates Sir John Crawford, a prominent Australian economist who helped pioneer the Green revolution in India. Earlier speakers in chronological order include Dr Lloyd Evans, Sir Gustav Nossal, Prof. Ross Garnaut, Prof. Alan Fels, Prof. Peter Drysdale and Prof. Ian Harper.
Date: March 20, 2012
Time: 05:45 P.M.
Venue:
The Somany Hall,
ASSOCHAM House
47 Prithviraj Road,
New Delhi-110011(INDIA)
Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Australia
Abstract:
The 2012 Sir John Crawford Lecture marks the Australia-India Council's 20th anniversary. Established in 2001, the Sir John Crawford Lecture Series provides a forum for eminent Australians to deliver lectures in India on topics of common public interest. It aims at exchange of expertise and promotion of professional links and understanding between the two countries. A joint initiative of the Australia-India Council and the National Council of Applied Economic Research, the lecture series commemorates Sir John Crawford, a prominent Australian economist who helped pioneer the Green revolution in India. Earlier speakers in chronological order include Dr Lloyd Evans, Sir Gustav Nossal, Prof. Ross Garnaut, Prof. Alan Fels, Prof. Peter Drysdale and Prof. Ian Harper.
Date: March 20, 2012
Time: 05:45 P.M.
Venue:
The Somany Hall,
ASSOCHAM House
47 Prithviraj Road,
New Delhi-110011(INDIA)
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