Determinants of Large City Slum Incidence in India: A Cross‐Sectional Study. Issue 1 (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tripathi, Sabayasachi
• Is Part Of: Poverty & public policy. Volume 7:Issue 1(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 22
• Page End: 43
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: urban agglomerations -- urban economic growth -- slums -- India; R1 -- R58; Poverty -- Periodicals; Poverty -- Government policy -- Periodicals; 353.5332
• DOI: 10.1002/pop4.93
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1944-2858

Abstract

Abstract : Roughly 1.37 crore households, or 17.4% of urban households in India lived in slums in 2011. This phenomenon poses serious challenges to Indian economic researchers and policy makers. By considering India's 52 large urban agglomerations, this article identifies/investigates the relevant city specific economic determinants of city slum incidence (measured by the ratio of city slum population to total city population). In addition, the article also tries to identify the cities with the best record in trying to improve the living condition of slum dwellers in India. Besides using city level data, the study uses three rounds of National Sample Survey (NSS) unit level data on 'consumption expenditure', 'employment and unemployment', and 'particulars of slums'. Using OLS regression analysis, the empirical results show that level of education positively and level of urban agglomeration, income, consumption expenditure, poverty, employment, and unemployment situation negatively impact on city slum incidence. The result of Borda ranking shows that Aurangabad, Hyderabad, Jodhpur, Bangalore, and Hubli‐Dharwad rank high among 39 large cities in regard to availability of quality of public services and better general conditions in the slums in India. Finally, the article suggests that the problem of slum should be analysed in a macro or overall perspective besides micro level as the stage of development of a country has a direct bearing on proliferation of slums.