Cover IMF Working Papers
Pandemic, Poverty, and Inequality: Evidence from India
Author:
Surjit Bhalla
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,
Karan Bhasin
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, and
Mr. Arvind Virmani
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Series:
IMF Working Papers
Volume/Issue:
Volume 2022: Issue 069
Language:
English
Publication Date:
05 Apr 2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400205170.001
ISBN:
9798400205170
ISSN:
1018-5941
Pages:
52
Keywords:
Poverty Measurement; Pandemic; food transfer; consumption inequality; consumption expenditure; poverty PPP; estimates of poverty; Consumption; Income inequality; Agricultural commodities; Household consumption; Global
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The paper presents estimates of poverty [extreme poverty PPP$1.9 and PPP$3.2] and consumption inequality in India for each of the years 2004-5 through the pandemic year 2020-21. These estimates include, for the first time, the effect of in-kind food subsides on poverty and inequality. Extreme poverty was as low as 0.8 percent in the pre-pandemic year 2019, and food transfers were instrumental in ensuring that it remained at that low level in pandemic year 2020. Post-food subsidy inequality at .294 is now very close to its lowest level 0.284 observed in 1993/94.
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Cover IMF Working Papers
IMF Working Papers
ISSN:
1018-5941
Publisher:
International Monetary Fund
Volume 2022: Issue 069