GS2 · 10 marks · 150 words

Outcome-based finance models such as social impact bonds have the potential to truly catalyse change and deliver socio-economic impact at scale. Discuss.

Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2023–2025

Syllabus: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

How toppers approached it

From 2 of the 3 answers · about 200 words.

Opening

  • A definition1 of 2
  • No separate opening1 of 2

Body

  • Points2 of 2

Close

  • A summary1 of 2
  • A way forward1 of 2

The toppers’ answers

Aditya SrivastavaAIR 1 · CSE 2023 · 30 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Social Impact bonds provide returns based on the outcomes of the scheme in which invested.

Body

Diagram
- Have potential to revolutionize -> bring outcome based budgeting -> promote social impact rather than just huge targets -> promote the values of welfare State (Article 38) -> lead to better fund utilization & fiscal discipline

However there are challenges -

Diagram
- Challenges -> low rate of return of low investment -> lack of clear definition of outcomes -> lack of investor confidence due to lack of participation -> top down approach without participation by people - Way ahead -> have a value based approach v define the outcomes and quantity -> promote the discounting & trading of these bonds

Close

This would help to achieve Social welfare via fiscal discipline.

More on Policy Design and Implementation

Government interventions and what goes wrong between intent and delivery.

All GS2 questions on Policy Design and Implementation