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Consumer expenditure inequality in India: a source decomposition analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Jayanta Sen
  • Debarati Das

Abstract

Purpose - This paper aims to deal with a closer look into the nature and extent of consumer expenditure inequality in India to identify the major contributions those are embedded, particularly after the economic reforms. Relative contributions of major consumption items/sources to the overall expenditure inequality are quantitatively examined in terms of a decomposition exercise. Eventually, the paper investigates the relative marginal effects of expenditure components/sources on overall inequality. Design/methodology/approach - Gini index is used to measure the degree of inequality in consumer expenditure. Contribution of each expenditure sources to overall inequality is estimated by using source decomposition technique of Gini index contributed by Lerman and Yitzhaki. Findings - The study observes that the inequality in consumer expenditure has increased in both the rural and the urban parts of India during the post-reform period. Non-food expenditure is more unevenly distributed, and it has been found to be more pro-rich in nature. Expenditure on cereals and pulses still exhibits higher inequality-reducing effect in rural and urban India. Education and health-care expenses have been inequality-increasing in the country. Contribution of expenditure on miscellaneous consumer services, durable goods, education and health care to the overall expenditure inequality is significantly higher. Originality/value - The study identifies the capacity of different expenditure sources towards increasing or decreasing the overall inequality which is crucial for better redistributive policies to be adopted to enhance the well-being of the economy in real sense.

Suggested Citation

  • Jayanta Sen & Debarati Das, 2018. "Consumer expenditure inequality in India: a source decomposition analysis," International Journal of Development Issues, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 17(2), pages 157-167, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:eme:ijdipp:ijdi-08-2017-0131
    DOI: 10.1108/IJDI-08-2017-0131
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Pawde, Balu & Shaw, Tara Shankar & Trivedi, Pushpa L, 2022. "Household Consumption Expenditure Inequality in Rural India: 1993-94 to 2011-12," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 57(11).
    2. Jayanta Sen, 2020. "Growth and Distribution Effects of Changes in Levels of Living in Rural India: A Decomposition Analysis," Indian Journal of Human Development, , vol. 14(3), pages 407-423, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Inequality; Decomposition; Distribution; Consumer expenditure; D12; D13; D31; I31;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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