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Is undernutrition responsive to changes in incomes?

Author

Listed:
  • Ravallion, Martin

Abstract

This paper discusses the effect that changes in individual incomes have on aggregate undernutrition. Undernutrition depends not only on nutrient intakes but on other factors, including nutrient requirements - which may differ widely amongst people. The author offers an approach to measuring the effects of shifts in budget constraints or other household parameters on undernutrition. Using household data on calorie consumption, income, prices, and other household characteristics, theaper illustrates how to: (a) estimate caloric intake functions for that data; and (b) use those functions to simulatethe effects of income changes on various measures of caloric undernutrition. The paper finds that the income elasticity of measured undernutrition is considerably higher than the income elasticity of individual caloric intakes. The reason is that the density of people tends to be high in a neighborhood of requirement norms, and intake responses tend to be highest amongst those who are least well nourished. Recent arguments that intakes are unresponsive to income changes should thus be interpreted with caution.

Suggested Citation

  • Ravallion, Martin, 1989. "Is undernutrition responsive to changes in incomes?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 303, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:303
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