Works in Progress

Consumption Smoothing and Political Representation of Minorities

Low-income households in developing economies face disproportionate income risks and limited means to smooth consumption. Using ethnic quotas for presidencies in Indian village council elections, I examine whether political representation of marginalized minority communities help smooth consumption after they experience aggregate income shocks. I find evidence of targeted redistribution of some welfare goods but no evidence of positive consumption smoothing outcomes for minority households when the elected village council president is from the same community.