Deepa Narayan

Bio: Deepa Narayan is an academic researcher from World Bank. The author has contributed to research in topics: Poverty & Empowerment. The author has an hindex of 26, co-authored 44 publications receiving 13928 citations. Previous affiliations of Deepa Narayan include University of Oxford.

The Local Level Institutions Study : local institutions, poverty and household welfare in Bolivia

Abstract: The study provides a particularly rich context to disentangle the interplay between the formal and informal institutions, and the interplay between history, politics, and changes in social organization over time. The authors combine qualitative data - to explore the history, politics, and dynamics of local associations, and of the nature of social relations in four municipalities - and, quantitative data derived from a household survey, to develop indices of social capital, and econometric techniques to explore linkages between poverty, and social capital. Four main conclusions are drawn: 1) As an asset, social capital matters more for the poor than to the non-poor, and has greater effect on household welfare, than investment in primary education; 2) there is a complementary, and substitution relation between informal, and formal institutions : at the municipal level, the relationship between social capital, and welfare is modified by the nature, and influence of other formal institutions. Prosperous municipalities achieve complementary relations, and linkages among strong institutions, and effective municipal governments, while the poorest municipalities, whose local organizations have weak linkages, exclude the poor, and have ineffective governments; 3) history, politics, and existing social structures have far reaching effects on social capital formation; however, deep legal, political, economic, and social capital formation changes lead to possible poverty reduction; and, 4) the degree of access to markets through proximity to cities, results in migrants maintaining close contact with local areas, though the reverse is also true, as many indigenous groups choose to honor their identity, and culture.

Empowerment and Poverty Reduction : A Sourcebook

Abstract: Poverty will not be reduced on a large scale, without tapping into the energy, skills, and motivation of the millions of poor people around the world This book offers a framework for empowerment, that focuses on increasing poor people's freedom of choice, and action to shape their own lives This approach requires three societal changes: a change in the mindset, from viewing poor people as the problem to viewing them as essential partners in reducing poverty; a change in the relationship between poor people, and formal systems, enabling them to participate in decisions that affect their lives; and, a change in formal, and informal institutions to make them more responsive to the needs, and realities of poor people Based on analysis of experiences from around the world, the book identifies four key elements to support empowerment of poor people: information, inclusions/participation, accountability, and local organizational capacity This framework is applied to five areas of action to improve development effectiveness These are: provision of basic services, improved local governance, improved national governance, pro-poor market development, and access to justice, and legal aid The book also offers tools and practices, focusing on a wide range of topics, to support poor people's empowerment These range from poor people's enterprises, information and communications technology, and, community driven development, to diagnostic tools such as corruption surveys, and citizen report cards

Bonds and bridges : social and poverty

Abstract: Using the lens of social capital-especially bridging or cross-cutting ties that cut across social groups and between social groups and government-provides new insights into policy design. Solidarity within social groups creates ties (bonding social capital) that bring people and resources together. In unequal societies, ties that cut across groups (bridging social capital) are essential for social cohesion and for poverty reduction. The nature of interaction between state and society is characterized as complementarity and substitution. When states are functional, the informal and formal work well together-for example, government support or community-based development. When states become dysfunctional, the informal institutions become a substitute and are reduced to serving a defensive or survival function. To move toward economic and social well-being, states must support inclusive development. Investments in the organizational capacity of the poor are critical. Interventions are also required to foster bridging ties across social groups-ethnic, religious, caste, or racial groups. Such interventions can stem from the state, private sector, or civil society and include: Changes in rules to include groups previously excluded from formal systems of finance, education, and governance, at all levels. Political pluralism and citizenship rights. Fairness before the law for all social groups together. Infrastructure that eases communication. Education, media, and public information policies that reinforce norms and values of tolerance and diversity.

‘Consultations with the Poor’ from a Health Perspective

Abstract: Deepa Narayan presents how we should look at health ‘through the eyes of the poor’. She argues that the body is sometimes poor people's only asset and is a major source of insecurity. New partnerships between public authorities, private sector and community groups must be formed to provide the foundation for good health.

Local institutions, poverty, and household welfare in Bolivia

Abstract: The authors empirically estimate the impact of social capital on household welfare in Bolivia--where they found 67 different types of local associations. They focus on household memberships in local associations as being especially relevant to daily decisions that affect household welfare and consumption. On average, households belong to 1.4 groups and associations: 62 percent belong to agrarian syndicates, 16 percent to production groups, 13 percent to social service groups, and 10 percent to education and health groups. Smaller numbers belong to religious and government groups. Agrarian syndicates, created by government decree in 1952, are now viewed mainly as community-initiated institutions to manage conmunal resources. They have been registered as legal entities to work closely with municipalities to represent the interests and priorities of local people in municipal decisionmaking. The effects of social capital operate through (at least) three mechanisms: sharing of information among association members; the reduction of opportunistic behavior; and better collective decisionmaking. The effect of social capital on household welfare was found to be 2.5 times that of human capital. Increasing the average educational endowment of each adult in the household by one year (about a 2.5-percent increase) would increase per capita household spending 4.2 percent; a similar increase in the social capital endowment would increase spending 9 to 10.5 percent. They measured social capital along six dimensions: density of memberships, internal heterogeneity of associations (by gender, age, education, religion, etc.), meeting attendance, active participation in decisionmaking, payment of dues (in cash and in kind), and community orientation. The strongest effect came from number of memberships. Active membership in an agrarian syndicate is associated with an average 11.5 percent increase in household spending. Membership in another local association is associated with a 5.3-percent higher spending level. Empirical results partly confirm the hypothesis that social capital provides long-term benefits such as better access to credit and a higher level of trust in the community as a source of assistance in case of need.

Social Capital: Prospects for a New Concept

Abstract: A growing number of sociologists, political scientists, economists, and organizational theorists have invoked the concept of social capital in the search for answers to a broadening range of questions being confronted in their own fields. Seeking to clarify the concept and help assess its utility for organizational theory, we synthesize the theoretical research undertaken in these various disciplines and develop a common conceptual framework that identifies the sources, benefits, risks, and contingencies of social capital.

Does Social Capital Have an Economic Payoff? A Cross-Country Investigation

Abstract: This paper presents evidence that "social capital" matters for measurable economic performance, using indicators of trust and civic norms from the World Values Surveys for a sample of 29 market economies. Memberships in formal groups—Putnam's measure of social capital—is not associated with trust or with improved economic performance. We find trust and civic norms are stronger in nations with higher and more equal incomes, with institutions that restrain predatory actions of chief executives, and with better-educated and ethnically homogeneous populations.

Estimation and Inference in Econometrics

Abstract: Offering a unifying theoretical perspective not readily available in any other text, this innovative guide to econometrics uses simple geometrical arguments to develop students' intuitive understanding of basic and advanced topics, emphasizing throughout the practical applications of modern theory and nonlinear techniques of estimation. One theme of the text is the use of artificial regressions for estimation, reference, and specification testing of nonlinear models, including diagnostic tests for parameter constancy, serial correlation, heteroscedasticity, and other types of mis-specification. Explaining how estimates can be obtained and tests can be carried out, the authors go beyond a mere algebraic description to one that can be easily translated into the commands of a standard econometric software package. Covering an unprecedented range of problems with a consistent emphasis on those that arise in applied work, this accessible and coherent guide to the most vital topics in econometrics today is indispensable for advanced students of econometrics and students of statistics interested in regression and related topics. It will also suit practising econometricians who want to update their skills. Flexibly designed to accommodate a variety of course levels, it offers both complete coverage of the basic material and separate chapters on areas of specialized interest.

Social capital: implications for development theory, research, and policy

Abstract: In the 1990s the concept of social capital defined here as the norms and networks that enable people to act collectively enjoyed a remarkable rise to prominence across all the social science disciplines. The authors trace the evolution of social capital research as it pertains to economic development and identify four distinct approaches the research has taken : communitarian, networks, institutional, and synergy. The evidence suggests that of the four, the synergy view, with its emphasis on incorporating different levels and dimensions of social capital and its recognition of the positive and negative outcomes that social capital can generate, has the greatest empirical support and lends itself best to comprehensive and coherent policy prescriptions. The authors argue that a significant virtue of the idea of and discourse on social capital is that it helps to bridge orthodox divides among scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.