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Fuelling Calorie Intake Decline: Household-Level Evidence from Rural India

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  • Basole, Amit
  • Basu, Deepankar

Abstract

In India, average calorie intake has declined even as real monthly expenditure has increased. Since cross sectional evidence suggests a positive relationship between the two variables, the trend emerges as a major puzzle. Using household-level data from four recent rounds of National Sample Survey data on consumption expenditure and a novel instrumental variable estimation strategy we find that rising expenditure on non-food items is one of the factors that has led to the calorie intake decline. We provide causal evidence for such a food budget squeeze in the case of one type of non-food item, viz. expenditures on cooking fuel.

Suggested Citation

  • Basole, Amit & Basu, Deepankar, 2015. "Fuelling Calorie Intake Decline: Household-Level Evidence from Rural India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 82-95.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:68:y:2015:i:c:p:82-95
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.11.020
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    References listed on IDEAS

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