Multidimensional Poverty Reduction in India between 1999 and 2006: Where and How?. (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alkire, Sabina; Seth, Suman
• Is Part Of: World development. Volume 72(2015)
• Page Start: 93
• Page End: 108
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: multidimensional poverty -- poverty measurement -- India -- destitution -- poverty dynamics -- subgroup decomposition; Economic history -- 1990- -- Periodicals; Economic assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 330.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.02.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-750X

Abstract

Summary: India has witnessed high economic growth since the 1980s, and a confirmed reduction in monetary poverty, particularly in poorer states. Poverty, however, has multiple dimensions. This paper thoroughly analyzes the change in multidimensional poverty in India between 1999 and 2006. We find a strong reduction in national poverty and each of its dimensions, but this has not been uniform across regions, castes, or religions. Probing further, we analyze changes in the distribution among the poor people nationally as well as within population subgroups. We find strong reductions among the poorer population nationally, but slower progress for most of the poorest groups.