International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

Does Governance Matter? Evidence from the Districts of West Bengal, India

Governance plays a decisive role in shaping development outcomes, particularly in decentralized administrative systems where districts act as key units of policy implementation and service de-livery. This study examines the quality of governance at the district level in West Bengal and analyses its relationship with economic performance. A composite Quality of Governance Index (QGI) is constructed for nineteen districts of West Bengal using multiple indicators.The results reveal substantial inter-district variation in governance quality. Hugli and North 24 Parganas emerge as the best-performing districts, while Puruliya and Uttar Dinajpur occupy the lowest po-sitions. To assess the development implications of governance, the study examines the relation-ship between QGI and District Gross Domestic Product (DGDP). However, governance quality explains only about one-fourth of the variation in district economic performance, highlighting the role of other structural, historical, and locational factors in shaping development outcomes. The findings underscore the importance of strengthening district-level governance mechanisms to promote balanced regional development in West Bengal and contribute to the broader discourse on sub-national governance and development in India.