Publications

This study uses observational and experimental data collected in two Indian states, Bihar and Kerala, to examine how exposure to migration affects social norms, identity attachments, and political preferences among migrants and left-behind family members. Drawing on insights from an original conjoint experiment (n=2,912) and a public opinion survey (n=1725), I find that migrants prefer more educated politicians, place less importance on co-ethnicity while evaluating candidates for local council positions, and exhibit a stronger inclination to vote for national parties over regional ones relative to non-migrants. These findings are consistent with classical modernization theories in which greater spatial mobility via rural-urban migration strengthens national identification, eroding the influence of local ethnic attachments on political preferences. They also reveal a broader pattern of political change in which migrants become more nationalized in their political orientations, while non-migrants remain more locally oriented.

Bridging the divide: Why minority elected officials are more responsive to citizen requests

This project, currently in the data analysis stage, builds on a replication analysis of a nationwide audit experiment in Indian cities to argue that descriptive representation can enhance political responsiveness even in the absence of electoral quotas. The initial research examined why politicians in host societies discriminate against migrants in providing constituency services and found that politicians’ beliefs about migrants’ low turnout propensity undermine the ability of migrant groups to secure basic services from the state. In my replication, I extended the analysis to specifically examine differences between local elected officials of majority Hindu and minority Muslim faiths. I find that minority Muslim councilors are more likely to respond to consistency service requests from non-co-ethnics than majority Hindu councilors. Additionally, my findings reveal that minority councilors are more responsive to requests from unregistered migrants than their majority counterparts, despite lacking an electoral incentive to do so. I explain these results as indicative of social-psychological motivations among minority representatives.

The effects of exposure to slow-onset disasters on collective action

with Ritwika Basu

Does exposure to slow-onset disasters enhance or hinder collective action? While disasters are often argued to foster shared grievances and spur demands for economic redistribution, their effects on collective action in high-risk regions remain unclear. Drawing on qualitative fieldwork and citizen surveys from Bihar and Gujarat – two Indian states facing acute climate risks – this study examines how recurrent floods and droughts influence citizen claim-making behavior. The findings reveal that households more severely exposed to slow-onset disasters are more likely to participate in community meetings and political protests compared to less exposed households. These results demonstrate how climate risks intersect with household political strategies to shape accountability mechanisms in contexts characterized by weak formal institutions.

Publications

Working Papers

Peer-Reviewed Articles

Book Chapters

Work in Progress

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