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Contribution of the urban poor: evidence from Chennai, India

Author

Listed:
  • Kala Seetharam Sridhar

    (Professor, Centre for Research in Urban Affairs, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru, India, corresponding author)

  • A.Venugopala Reddy

    (Centre for Symbiosis of Technology, Environment and Management (STEM), Bengaluru, India)

Abstract

In the present paper, evidence is gathered on the contribution of the poor to the city economy, using the case of Chennai in India based on large primary surveys. We find that gender, education level and the salary status of the urban poor have a significant impact on their income. The paper takes into account the contribution made by informal enterprises located in the slums of the city. By aggregating across households and enterprises based on the primary surveys and extending this contribution to all slums in the city, we find that slums, which contain 19 per cent of the population of Chennai, contribute to 14 per cent of the city’s economy. The paper summarizes the policy implications of the research.

Suggested Citation

  • Kala Seetharam Sridhar & A.Venugopala Reddy, 2014. "Contribution of the urban poor: evidence from Chennai, India," Asia-Pacific Development Journal, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), vol. 21(2), pages 53-76, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:unt:jnapdj:v:21:y:2014:i:2:p:53-76
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yujiro Hayami & A. K. Dikshit & S. N. Mishra, 2006. "Waste pickers and collectors in Delhi: Poverty and environment in an urban informal sector," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(1), pages 41-69.
    2. Kala Seetharam Sridhar & Guanghua Wan (ed.), 2014. "Urbanization in Asia," Springer Books, Springer, edition 127, number 978-81-322-1638-4, October.
    3. Gaur, Kirti & Keshri, Kunal & Joe, William, 2013. "Does living in slums or non-slums influence women's nutritional status? Evidence from Indian mega-cities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 137-146.
    4. Arup Mitra, 1992. "Urban Poverty: A Rural Spill-Over?," Indian Economic Review, Department of Economics, Delhi School of Economics, vol. 27, pages 403-419.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ambey Kumar Srivastava, 2017. "Segregated Data of Urban Poor for Inclusive Urban Planning in India," SAGE Open, , vol. 7(1), pages 21582440166, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Urban poor; cities — India; contribution of urban poor; urban poverty — Chennai.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure

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