UTA professor's research goes viral as “Triple Engine” governance sparks political debate

What began as an academic study quickly moved beyond the classroom, entering political discourse in India and echoing broader global debates about governance and coordination that are especially relevant in election years, including the upcoming U.S. midterms in November.

Assistant professor of economics Dr. Ashish Sedai, alongside his co-author, recently published a paper titled “The Triple Engine Effect: Does Full Vertical Alignment Unlock the State?” as part of his visiting professorship at Stanford University. Sedai’s research examines how full party alignment at local, state and national tiers affects economic equality in India. 

“This question is important because recently there has been a lot of debate, not only in India but in other countries, about double and triple engine governments,” Sedai said. “Leaders often claim that if governments are aligned at every level, problems of coordination would disappear. We’re trying to understand the logic behind that and whether coordination between political parties reduces inequality and improves economic growth and public service delivery.”

According to Sedai, the terms “double engine” and “triple engine” governmentcome from politicians in India to describe party alignment across governance levels. 

“The term ‘triple engine’ comes from politicians in India who have long talked about ‘double engine’ governments, where the prime minister and chief minister are from the same party,” Sedai said. “What hasn’t been studied is what happens when alignment extends to the local level. Once all three tiers are aligned, you can really examine coordination across government.”

Dr. Ashish Sedai

The idea is simple: when political leaders at every level belong to the same party, coordination becomes easier. With fewer political barriers, governments can deliver services more efficiently, potentially leading to stronger economic growth and lower inequality.

To study this, Sedai and his co-author compiled a unique dataset tracking political alignment across all three levels of government in India.The researchers compiled multiple datasets on electoral outcomes, economic inequality, social welfare programs and financial development to examine the link between alignment and economic development at the constituency level. 

Ultimately, the study found that full party alignment at all levels of governance “leads to significant increase in economic growth and reductions in spatial inequality.”

“One thing that is super interesting to find is that only under triple alignment do we see a reduction in economic inequality, to the tune of 2% reduction in annual nightlight-based inequality,” Sedai said. “By the same logic, we also see a 2.5% growth in night lights in constituencies that observe these alignments.”

While alignment did reduce consumption inequality and improved the delivery of government-controlled services, Sedai emphasized that it does not fully improve market-driven services.

“We found that triple alignment improves services the government directly controls, such as employment programs, but has less impact on market-driven sectors like banking and healthcare,” Sedai said. “So while alignment matters, it doesn’t solve all the problems of development.”

While the findings offer new insight into how political coordination shapes development, the research didn’t stay confined to academic circles.

After being shared online by prominent economists, the paper quickly gained traction on social media, drawing attention from policymakers and political leaders.

“I saw one of the leaders of the opposition party give a strong perspective (in India), saying that when he was a member of Parliament, alignment mattered in bringing funds and development. There were multiple political leaders from multiple parties who started commenting on that, and it brought our paper into question and into debate,” Sedai said. “I also received an email from one of the political leaders in India saying it was a fantastic study and inviting me to discuss it further.”

Sedai was shocked that the paper resonated with those outside academia, and noted that politicians outside India also referenced the paper in their discussions. He said that while most comments understood the findings, some did not.

“Some people have used this paper to push their own arguments against politicians, which was not the purpose of the paper,” Sedai said. 

Sedai said the experience highlights both the influence and responsibility that comes with policy-relevant research.

From an academic standpoint, he said the goal is not to take a political position, but to better understand how governance structures shape economic outcomes.

“Our intention is not to bias anyone against any political party,” Sedai said. “It is to give an understanding from an economic standpoint of how political alignment works and how it is manifested.”

He added that he hopes similar research is replicated in other countries, including the United States, to better understand how coordination across levels of government influences development.

“This is one of the very first studies of its kind,” he said. “I hope others build on it in different parts of the world.”