14 December 2012: Reducing Choice Overload without Reducing Choices

Sudipto Sarangi
Louisiana State University

Abstract:
Previous studies have demonstrated that a multitude of options can lead to choice overload, reducing decision quality. Through controlled experiments, we examine sequential choice architectures that enable the choice set to remain large while potentially reducing the effect of choice overload. A specific tournament-style architecture achieves this goal. An alternate architecture in which subjects compare each subset of options to the most preferred option encountered thus far fails to improve performance due to the status quo bias. Subject preferences over different choice architectures are negatively correlated with performance, suggesting that providing choice over architectures might reduce the quality of decisions.

Date: December 14, 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)

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7 December 2012: Does female leadership impact on governance and corruption? Evidence from a public poverty alleviation program in Andhra Pradesh, India

Farzana Afridi
Indian Statistical Institute

Abstract:
We exploit the* *nation-wide* *policy of randomly allocating village
council headships to women to identify the impact of female political
leadership on the governance of projects implemented under the
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in Andhra Pradesh,
India. Using unique data from a primary survey and from a panel of
audit reports on the implementation of projects under the scheme, we
find that the likelihood of inefficiencies and leakages are higher in
village councils reserved for women. These results are explained by
political and administrative inexperience making female headed
councils more vulnerable to bureaucratic capture of power. Our
findings highlight the importance of capacity building and
institutional support to improve the effectiveness of affirmative
action policies and bolster women’s political participation in
developing countries.

Date: December 7, 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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1 December 2012: National Seminar on Financial Law & Policy: An Inter-Disciplinary Approach

Organised by:
National Law University, Delhi

In collaboration with
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi
[Link]

Date: December 1, 2012
Time: 10:00 A.M.

Venue:
Conference Room,
5th Floor, Academic Block,
National Law University,
Sector 14, Dwarka,
New Delhi- 110078 (INDIA)

Location:

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4 December 2012: Covered Bonds: An Alternative Source of Financing Mortgage Lending in India

Mira Tamboli

Abstract:
This paper examines the potential of building and promoting a Covered Bond market in India and puts forth guidelines and considerations for the development of best practices and legislation. It gives an overview of the instrument and examines merits of Covered Bonds through comparison with Mortgage Backed Securities. A brief discussion on benefits to the issuers, investors and the government follows. In the absence of legislation, consideration for a suitable structure for Covered Bond issuance as an interim solution is presented. By making a case for adopting legislation with broad policy considerations on key issues, this paper provides a starting point for discussion on the issuance of Covered Bonds in India.

Date: December 4, 2012
Time: 03:30 P.M.

Venue:
ICRIER Conference Room,
Core 6A, 4th Floor,
India Habitat Centre, Lodi Road,
New Delhi – 110 003(INDIA)

Location:

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29 November 2012: The Merits of Money and “Muscle”: Criminality, Elections and Democracy in India

Milan Vaishnav
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Abstract:
This presentation will review the author’s recent research which tries to understand how democratic elections can coexist with a significant number of politicians implicated in criminal wrongdoing. Specifically, it explores three questions. Why do parties nominate candidates with criminal backgrounds? Why do voters vote for them? And what does their proliferation mean for democratic accountability? To address these questions, the author draws on a wide body of quantitative and qualitative evidence from India.

Date: November 29, 2012
Time: 12:30 P.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall-II
Centre for Policy Research,
Dharma Marg, Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi–110021(INDIA)

Location:

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27 November 2012: Growth and Citizenship in Indian Cities: A Comparative Perspective

Patrick Heller
Brown University

Abstract:
Are growth and inclusion compatible in the mega-cities of the Global South? Can democratic urban governance make the difference? Under what conditions can cities be effectively coordinated? This talk develops a preliminary view of growth and citizenship in India by exploring Indian cities through Brazilian and South African lenses. Extending insights from urban regime theory, Prof. Heller argues that the South African city has become a quintessential “growth machine”; that the Brazilian city can be usefully categorized as a “social city” in which participatory structures have secured a basic “right to the city”; and that viewed through these lenses the Indian city appears as a “growth cabal”. The difference, he argues, can only be understood by examining the relationship between political power and civil society in each country.

Date: November 27, 2012
Time: 03:45 P.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall
Centre for Policy Research,
Dharma Marg, Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi–110021(INDIA)

Location:

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12 November 2012: NIPFP Macro-DSGE Workshop

Organised by:
Macro/Finance Group

Conference Program

Date: November 12, 2012
Time: 09:30 A.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall, 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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