Examining Bureaucratic Responsiveness in India: A Comparative Study of Municipal Services

This dissertation examines bureaucratic responsiveness in municipal services in Karnataka, India. It specifically asks: under what circumstances are bureaucrats more likely to be responsive to citizens in urban India? Drawing on public administration and international development literature, I develop a conceptual framework to identify the institutional, organizational, individual, and political factors within public administration that shape bureaucrats’ response to citizen inputs. In addition, I explore the influence of service characteristics on the bureaucratic and political incentives for responsiveness. I examine these factors collectively through a comparative study of road infrastructure and waste management services in three municipal administrations in Karnataka. Through interviews with bureaucrats and civil society actors, this dissertation offers three key findings. First, organizational factors such as administrative structure and capacity are essential in responding to citizens. Second, service characteristics influence incentives for bureaucrats and politicians, which shapes their response to citizens. Third, civil society engagement helps in finding ways to overcome organizational challenges and hold bureaucrats accountable in responding to public needs.

Author

• Prasad, Aryamala

Language

• en

Keyword

• Bureaucracy
• Social Accountability
• Responsiveness
• Citizen Participation
• Public Participation

Date created

• 2021

Type of Work

• Dissertation

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Public Policy & Administration

Degree

• Ph.D.

Advisor

• Brainard, Lori A

Committee Member(s)

• Nabatchi, Tina
• Brinkerhoff, Derick W

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/g445cd86t