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Gender Bias in Nutrient Intake

Author

Listed:
  • Geoffrey Lancaster

    (The late Geoffrey Lancaster passed away while this article was in press. At the time of his demise, Lancaster was employed at the School of Economics, University of Tasmania, Australia.)

  • Pushkar Maitra

    (Pushkar Maitra is at the Department of Economics, Monash University, Clayton Campus, VIC 3800, Australia. E-mail: pushkar.maitra@buseco.monash.edu.au.)

  • Ranjan Ray

    (Ranjan Ray (corresponding author) is at the School of Economics, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 85, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia. E-mail: ranjan.ray@utas.edu.au.)

Abstract

The importance of nutrient intake in the development literature stems from its role as a determinant of economic growth and welfare via its link with productivity and deprivation. This article analyses nutrient intake in rural India and provides evidence on its determinants in selected Indian states. Of particular interest is the analysis of gender bias in nutritional intake. The estimation results show that there is considerable heterogeneity in the experience of various Indian states and between various age groups. For example, while Kerala and Maharashtra record significant gender bias in the intra-household allocation of nutrients to adults in the age group 18–60 years, the bias occurs in the younger age group of 11–17 years in case of Haryana. None of the selected states records significant gender bias in the allocation of nutrients to young infants (0–5 years). The results of this study suggest that policies need to be tailored to the realities of individual states for their effectiveness. The study also provides evidence that suggests that the conventional expenditure based poverty rates underestimate poverty considerably in relation to those based on minimum levels of calorie intake recommended by the Indian Planning Commission. Finally the results also show that the use of age and gender invariant ‘minimum’ calorie levels overestimate poverty in relation to those that recognize their variation between individuals.

Suggested Citation

  • Geoffrey Lancaster & Pushkar Maitra & Ranjan Ray, 2006. "Gender Bias in Nutrient Intake," South Asia Economic Journal, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, vol. 7(2), pages 255-299, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:soueco:v:7:y:2006:i:2:p:255-299
    DOI: 10.1177/139156140600700206
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John Strauss & Duncan Thomas, 1998. "Health, Nutrition, and Economic Development," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 36(2), pages 766-817, June.
    2. Behrman, Jere R & Deolalikar, Anil B, 1987. "Will Developing Country Nutrition Improve with Income? A Case Study for Rural South India," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 95(3), pages 492-507, June.
    3. Subramanian, Shankar & Deaton, Angus, 1996. "The Demand for Food and Calories," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 104(1), pages 133-162, February.
    4. Strauss, John & Thomas, Duncan, 1995. "Human resources: Empirical modeling of household and family decisions," Handbook of Development Economics, in: Hollis Chenery & T.N. Srinivasan (ed.), Handbook of Development Economics, edition 1, volume 3, chapter 34, pages 1883-2023, Elsevier.
    5. Meenakshi, J. V. & Ray, Ranjan, 2002. "Impact of household size and family composition on poverty in rural India," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 24(6), pages 539-559, October.
    6. Lancaster, Geoffrey & Ray, Ranjan & Valenzuela, Maria Rebecca, 1999. "A Cross-Country Study of Equivalence Scales and Expenditure Inequality on Unit Record Household Budget Data," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 45(4), pages 455-482, December.
    7. Ravallion, Martin, 1990. "Income Effects on Undernutrition," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 38(3), pages 489-515, April.
    8. Bouis, Howarth E. & Haddad, Lawrence J., 1992. "Are estimates of calorie-income fxelasticities too high? : A recalibration of the plausible range," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(2), pages 333-364, October.
    9. Stiglitz, Joseph E, 1976. "The Efficiency Wage Hypothesis, Surplus Labour, and the Distribution of Income in L.D.C.s," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 28(2), pages 185-207, July.
    10. Lancaster, Geoffrey & Ray, Ranjan & Valenzuela, Maria Rebecca, 1999. "A Cross-Country Study of Household Poverty and Inequality on Unit Record Household Budget Data," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 48(1), pages 177-208, October.
    11. Srinivasan, T. N., 1981. "Malnutrition : Some measurement and policy issues," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 8(1), pages 3-19, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Shyma Jose, 2017. "Decomposition of gender differential in malnutrition in Indian children," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 19(2), pages 299-322, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    JEL: O12; JEL: I12; JEL: C31; Gender Bias; Nutrient Intake; India;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • C31 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models; Quantile Regressions; Social Interaction Models

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