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Understanding the Evidence Base for Poverty–Environment Relationships using Remotely Sensed Satellite Data: An Example from Assam, India

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  • Watmough, Gary R.
  • Atkinson, Peter M.
  • Saikia, Arupjyoti
  • Hutton, Craig W.

Abstract

This article presents results from an investigation of the relationships between welfare and geographic metrics from over 14,000 villages in Assam, India. Geographic metrics accounted for 61% of the variation in the lowest welfare quintile and 57% in the highest welfare quintile. Travel time to market towns, percentage of a village covered with woodland, and percentage of a village covered with winter crop were significantly related to welfare. These results support findings in the literature across a range of different developing countries. Model accuracy is unprecedented considering that the majority of geographic metrics were derived from remotely sensed data.

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  • Watmough, Gary R. & Atkinson, Peter M. & Saikia, Arupjyoti & Hutton, Craig W., 2016. "Understanding the Evidence Base for Poverty–Environment Relationships using Remotely Sensed Satellite Data: An Example from Assam, India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 188-203.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:78:y:2016:i:c:p:188-203
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.10.031
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