One nation, one poll? There is a midway solution
- Swaminathan Anklesaria Aiyar
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM Mar 16, 2024, 21:22 IST IST
Research shows frequent polls are bad for India, but democracies need checks and balances. One way out would be not-so-simultaneous polls
Holding simultaneous central and state elections could raise GDP by as much as 1.5% (a whopping Rs 4.5 trillion) in the year after the election. So says an academic paper by former Finance Commission chief NK Singh and IMF economist Prachi Mishra after comparing growth before and after elections in two groups of states — those whose elections coincided with (or were close to) national elections, and non-simultaneous states.
This is a serious academic exercise, not a concocted pre-election stunt. Many economists may contest the methodology and, hence, outcomes. The predicted gain of as much as 1.5% of GDP should be treated with caution. Yet you do not need to be an economist to realise that constant state elections every few months entail not only much spending on election logistics but also disruption of economic activity and decision-making by business people, politicians, and bureaucrats. The Model Code of Conduct of the Election Commission prohibits new schemes and policies after election schedules are notified, slowing activity for weeks.
This is a serious academic exercise, not a concocted pre-election stunt. Many economists may contest the methodology and, hence, outcomes. The predicted gain of as much as 1.5% of GDP should be treated with caution. Yet you do not need to be an economist to realise that constant state elections every few months entail not only much spending on election logistics but also disruption of economic activity and decision-making by business people, politicians, and bureaucrats. The Model Code of Conduct of the Election Commission prohibits new schemes and policies after election schedules are notified, slowing activity for weeks.
