Abstract for:

Industry and the Urge to Cluster: A Study of the Informal Sector in India

Megha  Mukim,  March 2011
Paper No' SERCDP0072: | Full paper

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Keywords: Agglomeration economies; informal sector, location choice

JEL Classification: R12; R3; O17

Is hard copy/paper copy available? YES - Paper Copy Still In Print.

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This Paper is published under the following series: SERC Discussion Papers

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Abstract:

This paper studies the determinants of firm location choice at the district-level in India to gauge the relative importance of agglomeration economies vis-à-vis good business environment. A peculiar characteristic of the Indian economy is that the unorganised nonfarm sector accounts for 43.2% of NDP and employs 71.6% of the total workforce. I analyse National Sample Survey data that covers over 4.4 million firms, in both unorganised sectors – manufacturing and services. The empirical analysis is carried out using count models, and I instrument with land revenue institutions to deal with possible endogeneity bias. I find that buyer-suppler linkages and industrial diversity make a district more attractive to economic activity, whilst the quality and level of infrastructure are also important. I conclude that public policy may be limited in its ability to encourage relocation of informal firms.