The Indian Rupee And The General Elections

History shows that after liberalization,the Rupee falls ahead of the general elections.For example,in 1996, the rupee depreciated by nearly 10% in the 12 months leading up to the elections. And in 2009, it fell by 18% in the run-up to the polls.

Economist’s explain this phenomenon by pointing out to the governments’ tendency to overspend to satisfy various vote banks as elections approach. This unproductive expenditure causes the Rupee to depreciate, which then forces the government to intervene and try to prop up the currency.

Lay people have a more interesting take on the matter:the money of the political class stashed abroad is brought back to fund elections. A weak rupee means politicians and others bringing back the money are able to get a greater bang for their buck, and it is in their interest that the Rupee remains weak during this period.   Read more of this post