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Social Hierarchies and Public Distribution of Food in Rural India

Author

Listed:
  • Deepankar Basu

    (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

  • Debarshi Das

    (Indian Institute of Technology)

Abstract

In this paper, we develop a simple model that shows that consumption of PDS food grains is significantly different between rich and poor households in states where the PDS functions relatively well; in places where the PDS is non-functional, the difference is not significant. Using household-level data from three recent thick rounds of the consumption expenditure survey (2004-2005, 2009-2010 and 2011-2012), we find evidence in support of the predictions from the model. This suggests that one way to make the PDS functional is to make it more accessible to poor and underprivileged households.

Suggested Citation

  • Deepankar Basu & Debarshi Das, 2014. "Social Hierarchies and Public Distribution of Food in Rural India," UMASS Amherst Economics Working Papers 2014-05, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ums:papers:2014-05
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    File URL: http://www.umass.edu/economics/publications/2014-05.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Reetika Khera, 2011. "India's Public Distribution System: Utilisation and Impact," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(7), pages 1038-1060.
    2. Basole, Amit & Basu, Deepankar, 2015. "Fuelling Calorie Intake Decline: Household-Level Evidence from Rural India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 82-95.
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    Cited by:

    1. Swati Narayan, 2021. "Time for Universal Public Distribution System: Food Mountains and Pandemic Hunger in India," Indian Journal of Human Development, , vol. 15(3), pages 503-514, December.
    2. Nicholas Li, 2021. "In-kind transfers, marketization costs and household specialization: Evidence from Indian farmers," Working Papers tecipa-700, University of Toronto, Department of Economics.
    3. Rahul Anand & Naresh Kumar & Mr. Volodymyr Tulin, 2016. "Understanding India’s Food Inflation: The Role of Demand and Supply Factors," IMF Working Papers 2016/002, International Monetary Fund.
    4. Li, Nicholas, 2023. "In-kind transfers, marketization costs and household specialization: Evidence from Indian farmers," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    5. Mr. David Coady & Delphine Prady, 2018. "Universal Basic Income in Developing Countries: Issues, Options, and Illustration for India," IMF Working Papers 2018/174, International Monetary Fund.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    public distribution system; India; development policy; food security;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O2 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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