Public institutions' flawed incentives and officials' skill gaps hinder good policies, undermining effective formation and implementation.
State Inefficiency and Bureaucratic Challenges
Complex Regulations Stifle Growth: Excessive licenses and permits in India hinder business and construction, creating a bureaucratic maze that impedes progress.
Understaffed Public Sector: Despite being a populous country, India's civil servant per capita ratio is the lowest among G-20 nations, affecting public services.
Resource Scarcity in Public Goods: India's state, though small by some metrics, faces challenges in tax-GDP ratio and public expenditure, leading to resource scarcity in public goods provision.
Improving State Capability and Technocratic Gaps
Decentralized Decision-Making Success: Countries like Australia demonstrate separating policy decisions and implementation accelerates execution; India should adopt such decentralized models.
Addressing Technocratic Deficits: A lack of technocratic skills at top levels results in outsourcing crucial tasks. Regular lateral entries and skill-specific training can bridge this gap effectively.
Strengthening Regulatory Bodies: Professional staff in market watchdogs like SEBI and RBI is insufficient. Augmenting their strength is vital for effective governance and oversight.
Corruption Challenges in Public Sector
Salary Disparities Breed Corruption: Public sector salaries, higher than private wages for most skill levels, contribute to corruption and the allure of government jobs.
Incentivizing Intrinsic Motivation: Performance-linked pay is less effective in the public sector. Moderating pay raises, reducing upper age limits, and fostering intrinsic motivation can curb corruption.
Balancing Economic Growth: Economic growth reducing the appeal of government jobs and periodic, moderate pay raises can minimize corruption and attract socially-driven individuals.