Economic Development and Voting Behaviour of Indian states with Reference to Parliamentary Elections Since 1980

Abstract

The chapter offers an explanation of the nature and scope of the present research study newlineselected for PhD thesis and also the rationale for the selection of this topic.The chapter newlinealso explains the objectives, hypotheses, sources of data and methods and models of data newlineanalysis used in the thesis. The chapter highlights that unlike the empirical studies of newlineBarrow, Rodrk, Tavers et al. and others, this study, like Gupta-Prakash s (1981) model of newlinerelation between democracy and growth, also believes that the voting behavior of people newlineis dependent on and also consequence of the economic performance of the party in power newlineat the time of general election in Parliament. Economic growth, measured by real per newlinecapita SDP of states, is conceived to operate both as positive and negative incumbency newlinefactors for the ruling party. Lastly, it briefly explains the chapter scheme of the thesis. newlineBrief outline of each chapter is provided. newline