Growth and Inequality in the Distribution of India鈥檚 Consumption Expenditure: 1983 to 2009-10

This paper assesses the evolution of inequality in the distribution of consumption expenditure in India

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
1 January 2015
Country:
India
Document Type:
Working Paper
Theme:
Economic Growth
First published:
1 January 2015
Authors:
Subramanian, S. and Jayaraj, D.

Abstract

This paper undertakes an assessment of the evolution of inequality in the distribution of consumption expenditure in India from 1983 to 2009-10. It employes data available in the quinquennial 鈥榯hick鈥� surveys of the National Sample Survey Office. The authors find that plausible adjustments to the data, along with an emphasis on 鈥榗entrist鈥� rather than 鈥榬ightist鈥� or 鈥榣eftist鈥� inequality measures, lead to a picture of inequality in the distribution of consumption expenditure widening over time, which is at odds with the impression of more or less unchanging inequality conveyed in some of the literature available on the subject in India.

Citation

Subramanian, S.; Jayaraj, D. Growth and Inequality in the Distribution of India鈥檚 Consumption Expenditure: 1983 to 2009-10. UNU-WIDER, Helsinki, Finland (2015) 20 pp. [WIDER Working Paper No. 2015/025]

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Published 1 January 2015
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