“Data-driven and purposeful action will get us there”: Prof. Karthik Muralidharan

Prof. Karthik Muralidharan, Tata Chancellor’s Professor of Economics at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), delivered a guest lecture on ‘India’s State Capacity: Accelerating growth, improving health and more’ on 31 July 2024. The talk, open to Bangaloreans, was part of the ‘Healthcare Economics: Theory and Practice’ course, a Term 4 Elective offered by IIMB faculty of the Public Policy area, Dr. Allen P Ugargol and Dr. Arnab Mukherji, Chairperson, Post Graduate Programme in Public Policy and Management.

Prof. Muralidharan, whose work has been published in reputed Economics journals and who has been an active contributor to discussions and debates on policy in India, including in the areas of health policy and education policy, focused his talk on enhancing state capacity with an emphasis on the health sector. He drew references from his recent book, ‘Accelerating India’s Development: A State-Led Roadmap for Effective Governance’ which delves into the pivotal role of state capacity in unlocking economic potential nationwide, offering the audience valuable insights in the areas of economics and governance. The book systematically analyzes India’s governance challenges, especially in delivering essential public services, and highlights how these are limiting India’s development. Drawing on a wealth of research and practical insight, it provides actionable, evidence-based strategies, emphasizing state-level reforms, which are critical for India’s advancement. “The main motivator for the book is the imperative of state capacity, where the key actors are the politicians and bureaucrats”, he explained.