Criminalization, caste and political outcomes in India: Evidence from Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

It is commonplace to view political markets in terms of the principal-agent paradigm. Voters (principals) attempt to discipline elected representatives (agents) using the mechanism of periodic elections. When this mechanism is deemed to function well, then despite the divergence between the innate interests of the electorate and elected politicians, the threat of electoral defeat provides sufficient incentives for the latter to broadly comply with popular demand. But, something is clearly amiss in India.