Suchergebnisse

Over 250,000 farmers have committed suicide in India since the mid-1990s. Studies – both case studies of states and at the individual-level - attribute these deaths to credit crunches in the agrarian sector and increased debt burden among farmers. Most of the farm suicides have, however, taken place in five of India's 28 states, suggesting that adverse financial circumstances affected farmers only in some states. Why did mounting debt and credit crunches affect farmers only in some states? This paper offers an answer by relating farm suicides to the financial reforms the country undertook since the 1990s. Using an instrumental variables approach, it shows how increased competition in the banking sector diverted lending away from agriculture to create dire economic conditions that facilitated farm suicides in some Indian states.

Successive national governments in India have invoked an emergency constitutional provision to impose direct central rule in states over 100 times since 1950. However, such central government usurpation of state governance has declined since the mid-1990s. This essay demonstrates how India's regional parties, by entering into opportunistic alliances with national parties and joining coalition central governments, have become effective barriers against central dominance. It also identifies the specific dynamics through which this effective veto power is exercised.

India's parliamentary elections were held in five phases between 16 April & 13 May 2009. Although best understood as 20 contests shaped by regional concerns, economic growth & terrorism were the two issues that dominated the campaign. The United Progressive Alliance (which includes the popular Congress Party) led with 262 seats, followed by the National Democratic Alliance (159 seats). Seventy-six-year old Manmohan Singh was sworn in as prime minister on 22 May. [Copyright Elsevier Ltd.]

India's parliamentary elections were held in five phases between 16 April & 13 May 2009. Although best understood as 20 contests shaped by regional concerns, economic growth & terrorism were the two issues that dominated the campaign. The United Progressive Alliance (which includes the popular Congress Party) led with 262 seats, followed by the National Democratic Alliance (159 seats). Seventy-six-year old Manmohan Singh was sworn in as prime minister on 22 May. [Copyright Elsevier Ltd.]