PhD Defence: Exploring the Dynamics of Social Identity and Social Networks in Shaping Developmental Outcomes: A Case of Rural India

This dissertation examines how social identity, and informal social networks influence cooperative behavior and developmental outcomes in rural India. It is grounded in the premise that in socially stratified and institutionally weak contexts, development is mediated not only by formal policies and economic incentives but also by deeply embedded social hierarchies and relational structures. The first chapter outlines the theoretical motivation, research questions, methodology, and study setting. The subsequent three chapters provide empirical evidence on how caste-based status differences affect norms of cooperation in collective action; how group identity salience and role model exposure shape behavioral responses within marginalized groups; and how multiplex social networks—spanning information, credit, and interpersonal ties—influence agricultural productivity.