Suchergebnisse

The inter-regional disparity in economic indicators in India has increased by a considerable amount over the years. The current study is an attempt to highlight the inter-state industrialisation disparities in India. The study, based on the theoretic exposition of new economic geography, argues that the initial geographical (historical) advantage to the southern part of India has locked in industrial activities in that region (core), depriving the northern (periphery) regions of the similar benefits. Based on the Annual Survey of Industries data, the study validates that the southern regions are geographically advantageous in India and are better industrialised than the geographically disadvantaged northern regions. The study points towards the negligence of the union government in acknowledging and intervening into the industrialisation and developmental divides rampant in the latter regions. The study concludes by laying grounds open for the furtherance in the recognition of economic geography as one of the fundamental determinants of inter-regional inequalities across India, demanding immediate policy attention. JEL Codes: J61, O14

Abstract
The standard method of poverty estimation uses unadjusted per capita income or expenditure to calculate population below the poverty line. However, recent empirical advancements have validated this method to be essentially flawed in nature. It does not take into consideration nor allows for household composition and economies of scale. Empirical investigations have confirmed the facts that the measures of poverty and inequality are sensitive to various choices of equivalence scales. Therefore, standard measures provide mostly overestimated poverty and inequality estimates. Further, poverty measurement across groups or overtime is sensitive to different poverty lines and measures. Any alteration in these can reverse the ranking. The current research attempts to test adult equivalence and scale economies in Jammu and Kashmir region to validate whether poverty estimates are sensitive to these scales or not. It also employs stochastic dominance technique to check whether poverty reduction is robust through time over a wide range of poverty lines and measures. The paper does so by employing three waves of monthly consumption expenditure rounds conducted by National Sample Survey Organization. For sensitivity analysis, the paper estimates FGT, Gini and Atkinson indices. Despite being industrially backward and politically fragile, J&K has shown better economic indicators than most other Indian states. The findings of the current study validate lower poverty in the region and at the same time discover a growth in inequality over time. While a mixed result is derived for adult equivalence, the economies of scale highlight the fact that standard measures are overstated and welfare rank reversal ensues when household size and gender of household is tested for. Further, stochastic dominance results show that poverty reduction is only robust during 61st and 66th round, and not during 66th and 68th rounds.