Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
adequacy imperative should be articulated as a right to policies (or, as a right to a
right) designed to ensure fulfillment of food entitlements. Whether it will make a
difference to the lives of the poor will depend largely on how it is conceptualized and
implemented.
appendix a: engel curves
Calories
DD drew attention to the downward shift in the calorie Engel curve over the period
1983-2004. We find that, for the period 1993-2004, the calorie Engel curves for rural
India (Figure A1) display a downward shift—especially above extremely low levels of
monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) at 2004 prices. The proportionate reduction in
calorie intake is much higher at higher MPCE.
The calorie Engel curve in urban India for 2004 lies above that of 1993 at lower levels
of MPCE (Figure A2). At MPCE >Rs 500, calorie intake was higher in 1993 than in 2004.
Thus, there is evidence of a downward shift of the calorie Engel curve in both rural and
urban India, especially at higher levels of MPCE.
Protein
Figures A3 and A4 show protein Engel curves for rural and urban India during the
period 1993-2004. The rural-urban contrast in protein intake is striking. In the rural
areas, protein intake was consistently lower across expenditure classes in 2004 than in
1993. The gap between 1993 and 2004 intakes widens considerably at higher MPCE. In
urban areas, the 2004 curve was above the 1993 curve at low levels of MPCE and, after
the cross-over expenditure of about Rs 500, the former lies below the 1993 curve.
Calories engel curves
Rural
8.2
1993
2004
8
7.8
7.6
7.4
7.2
5.5
6
6.5
7
7.5
Log of monthly per capita expenditure
Figure A1 Calorie Engel Curves, Rural India, 1993-2004
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search