Can Mandated Political Representation Increase Policy Influence for Disadvantaged Minorities? Theory and Evidence from India

TLDR

Representative democracy presumes that all affected by policy have a voice, yet electorally accountable governments often fail to reflect disadvantaged minorities’ interests. This paper examines whether mandated political representation through reservation in Indian states can give disadvantaged groups influence over policy‑making. The authors analyze the institutional features of reservation in Indian states to assess how mandated representation shapes policy influence. Political reservation increased transfers to beneficiary groups, suggesting that complete policy commitment may be absent in democracies.

Abstract

A basic premise of representative democracy is that all those subject to policy should have a voice in its making. However, policies enacted by electorally accountable governments often fail to reflect the interests of disadvantaged minorities. This paper exploits the institutional features of political reservation, as practiced in Indian states, to examine the role of mandated political representation in providing disadvantaged groups influence over policy-making. I find that political reservation has increased transfers to groups which benefit from the mandate. This finding also suggests that complete policy commitment may be absent in democracies, as is found in this case.