Artha Vijnana: Journal of The Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics

M. H. Suryanarayana ¹

Affiliations
1 Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Gen. A.K. Vaidya Marg, Goregaon (East), Mumbai 400 065, IN

Abstract

This paper proposes measures to identify how prevalence of various diseases and disease groups vary by economic status of the household so as to permit categorization of diseases into those associated with deprivation and affluence respectively. For this purpose, the study estimates (i) pseudo-Lorenz ratio for distribution of morbidity (as measured by the number of household members reporting an ailment) with respect to the household's economic status (as measured by the household per capita consumption expenditure); and (ii) Engel elasticity of morbidity with respect to the household's economic status by disease. The paper illustrates with economic gradients in morbidity disaggregated by disease using household level micro data from the 60^th round of the National Sample Survey for the state of Kerala in India and for India as a whole. Among the results, one particularly noteworthy is that the rich have higher morbidity rates than the poor, although this varies by disease.

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M. H. Suryanarayana ¹

Affiliations
1 Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Santosh Nagar, Goregaon (East), Mumbai - 400 065, IN

Abstract

This paper examines the economic handicaps and extent of deprivation of the Scheduled Caste households in rural India. It compares them with the Scheduled Tribe households and other social groups in terms of their economic profile in 1993-94. It examines the extent of poverty and inequality among the Scheduled Castes by different landholding classes and household types both at a point in time and over time between 1987-88 and 1993-94. The evidence presented call for efforts to augment both the physical and human capital endowment of the Scheduled Caste households in order to promote their opportunities, empowerment and security.

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M. H. Suryanarayana ¹, S. Geetha ¹

Affiliations
1 Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Gurgaon (East), Mumbai - 400 065, IN

Abstract

The focus of this paper is on deriving a formula for estimating the P_α measure of poverty when the relevant consumer expenditure/income distribution data are available in grouped form. The formula is derived assuming consumption/income distribution to follow the three parameter lognormal distribution as a function of the moments of the income distribution. The moments are estimated using the method of Maximum Likelihood and hence the estimated poverty measure is consistent and efficient under certain very general conditions. The proposed formula is Illustrated with reference to the Indian National Sample Survey (NSS) data on consumption distribution for the period 1961-62 to 1990-91. The results show that the poor benefited (suffered) more during periods of general improvement (decline) in economic conditions and levels of living.

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M. H. Suryanarayana

Abstract

This paper shows, with reference to the Indian National Sample Survey data on consumption distribution, how data valuation methods can distort welfare inferences in applied welfare analysis.

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M. H. Suryanarayana

Abstract

This paper shows that assumptions about distributional parameters in plan models have implications for projections about commoditywise demand and redistributional changes required to achieve certain targeted poverty reduction. As an example, the paper attempts to quantify such implications with reference to the Fifth Five Year Plan. It is shown that such assumptions lead to distortions in plan projections which are particularly serious for redistributional targets.

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M. H. Suryanarayana

Abstract

Poverty, as an economic malaise afflicting the modern societies, has in recent years received considerable attention all the world over. In India too, the problem has been dissected and dealt with from different angles covering such various issues as the size of and trends in poverty, the causes for its existence and persistence, the policy prescriptions for its eradication etc. Such a widespread and pronounced concern for poverty is justifiable on both moral and economic grounds. That poverty is a moral anathema has gained almost universal recognition; while the proposition that poverty anywhere is a threat to plenty everywhere sums up its economic unworthiness.

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