What determines how governance indicators shape policy processes? Evidence from three environmental issues in India

Abstract

Governance indicators influence and shape policy processes. The need for exploring how governance indicators lead to efficient policy responses is a long-drawn debate in the field of policy studies. While existing literature is mostly from developed world, there is a dearth of empirical evidence from developing countries like India. As cities continue to remain the fulcrum of economic growth despite the much-argued development model practised across India, it remains to be seen how governance indicators determine policy processes in cities. Adapting United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific's (UNESCAP's) module on eight governance indicators we studied the policy process of three diverse climate change-linked environmental issues - air pollution, dengue, and extreme heat, from three urban Indian metropolis - Delhi, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad, respectively. We used a semi-structured questionnaire to interview 33 stakeholders. We coded interview findings and formulated a color-coded matrix to highlight the importance of governance indicators by environmental issues. Transparency, accountability and participation played an important role in shaping policy processes. The importance of other governance indicators varied due to diversity in administrative structures across three cities. Our study's findings highlight a complex relationship between governance indicators and policy processes linked to the environmental issues. Our study shows that the relevance of governance indicators in shaping policies around environmental issues is determined by the nature of the environmental issue and the structure of governance. In addition, our study adds four new indicators, governance structures, capacity building, informality, and gender-inclusivity, which influence policy processes.