Kartikeya Batra on Long-Run Effects of Land Redistribution in India
Nov 16, 2023
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Shruti spoke with Kartikeya Batra, Ph.D. candidate in economics at the University of Maryland. They discussed the long-run effects of land redistribution in India, the Zamindari or Taluqdari system, land titling versus redistribution, property rights, the relationship between land owning castes and socioeconomic outcomes, and more.
Land redistribution in India has led to higher wealth, increased non-farm employment, and improved education outcomes.
Land redistribution has affected social relationships and cooperation between different castes in Uttar Pradesh, leading to changes in social norms and interactions.
Deep dives
Long-Run Effects of Land Redistribution
The podcast episode discusses the research paper titled 'Long-Run Effects of Land Redistribution, Evidence from India' by Karthakya Bhatra. The paper explores the impact of the land redistribution policy in modern-day Uttar Pradesh, specifically focusing on the erstwhile Zamindari or Taluktari system and its effects on socio-economic outcomes. The study compares the areas that shifted towards the Mahalwari system with those that maintained the old system, revealing that the treated areas with land redistribution have higher wealth, increased non-farm employment, and more years of schooling. The research also examines the role of property rights, land titling versus land redistribution, and the relationship between landowning costs and socio-economic outcomes.
Historical Context and Methodology
The podcast episode delves into the historical context of land ownership in Uttar Pradesh, discussing the transition from the Taluktari system to the Mahalwari system during British colonial rule. It highlights the motivations behind the researcher's study, focusing on understanding the factors that contribute to the varied socio-economic outcomes in different parts of Uttar Pradesh. The episode also explains the methodological approach of the paper, including the use of special regression discontinuity design, village-level data, and statistical analysis to assess the long-term effects of land redistribution.
Impact on Caste and Social Norms
The study explores the impact of land redistribution on caste dynamics and social norms in Uttar Pradesh. It examines how the distribution of land and power among different castes affected social relationships and cooperation. The episode discusses the link between land ownership, caste system, and power dynamics, highlighting the changes in social norms and interactions between upper castes and scheduled castes in the treated and control areas. The findings reveal that the reduced concentration of land and power in the treated areas led to lower cooperation between upper castes and scheduled castes, highlighting the complex interplay between redistribution policies and societal dynamics.
Policy Implications and Lessons
The podcast episode concludes with a discussion on the policy implications and broader lessons from the research. While the findings may not directly inform specific policy interventions today, they provide insights into the long-term effects of land redistribution and the importance of property rights in shaping socio-economic outcomes. The study highlights the trade-off between economic growth and social harmony, emphasizing the need for policies that address both equality and cooperation among different castes. It also sheds light on the role of historical factors, state capacity, and the strategies of powerful elites in shaping social and economic dynamics.
Shruti spoke with Kartikeya Batra, who is a Ph.D. candidate in economics at the University of Maryland and has a master’s in international affairs from The Fletcher School.
His research lies at the intersection of political economy, development economics, and economic history. They discussed his job market paper titled “Long-Run Effects of Land Redistribution: Evidence from India,” and talked about the erstwhile Zamindari or Taluqdari system and its impact on modern day Uttar Pradesh, land titling versus land redistribution in India, the importance of property rights, relationship between land owning castes and socioeconomic outcomes, and much more.
