Competition and Demographics in Large Indian Cities

Abstract

Recent studies suggest that consumer-household attributes may be as important in determining the level of competition in certain markets as firm characteristics and the number of firms. However, evidence on which consumer-household attributes matter for competition is limited, especially for developing countries. Focusing on India's retail sector, the present paper contributes to this literature by showing that the number of adult non-workers per household in the city, a proxy for shopping time opportunity cost, has a strong effect on competition between retailers. Policy implications of our findings in light of the ongoing dramatic reductions in non-workers in India are discussed.

Reaching up and reaching out: The impact of competition on firms’ productivity and export decisions

“…It is monopoly rents that drives firms into investing in R&D. Competition, however, erodes the rent (Griffith & Harrison, ). Globally, competition policies are basically targeted at curtailing the dominance of single firms (monopoly) or at preventing collusive agreements among firms (Amin, ). When firms face little or no competition, they are able to increase their profits and this helps them to expand their production lines and invest in innovative activities.…”

Service Delivery To Informal Settlements In South Asia's Mega Cities: the Role Of State and Non-State Actors

“…After being forced to sell their land, these small landowners have migrated to cities in pursuit of economic opportunities. 20 Similarly, seasonal rural labourers have established more permanent informal settlements across the urban and peri-urban fringes of city centres due to falling rural employment opportunities 21 . Researchers have noticed that as subsequent generations make these peri-urban informal settlements their home, their identity with their home villages diminishes and they associate themselves with the host city.…”

“…Contributions to critical policy analysis also focus mainly on the upper tiers of the state; while urban service delivery machineries and institutions at the lower tiers are neglected (Leftwich, 2008;Devas, 2001;Umeh & Andranovich, 2005;Rakodi, 2004). As eluded to earlier, critical theorists and Marxist analysts focus on the developing state and attribute underdevelopment to core-periphery marginalization, neocolonial effects, and the destruction of the indigenous pre-colonial mechanisms and governmental structures, vital to societal development (Amin, 2010). While such analysis is certainly accurate, research agendas dismiss the ability of governments to deliver services equitably, arguing that states as a whole, lack the political will.…”

“…There is a continuing policy debate on interventions to resuscitate rural livelihoods and economies, in light of climate change and food insecurity. I do not seek to engage this debate here, but only point out that migration to urban centres is not irreversible at the national levels of policy intervention 21. This trend is in contrast to the previous practise of returning regularly to their home town or village in rural heartlands.…”

Service Delivery To Informal Settlements In South Asia's Mega Cities: the Role Of State and Non-State Actors

“…;Devas, 2001;Umeh & Andranovich, 2005;Rakodi, 2004). As eluded to earlier, critical theorists and Marxist analysts focus on the developing state and attribute underdevelopment to core-periphery marginalization, neocolonial effects, and the destruction of the indigenous pre-colonial mechanisms and governmental structures, vital to societal development(Amin, 2010). While such analysis is certainly accurate, research agendas dismiss the ability of governments to deliver services equitably, arguing that states as a whole, lack the political will.…”