Rising Inequality With High Growth Isn't This Trend Worrisome? Analysis of Kerala Experience

The relation between growth, inequality and poverty is the central theme of the paper. While the fast economic growth under the neo-liberal policy regime helps reduce poverty, it increases inequality in income distribution in a way that retards the progress in poverty-reduction. The empirical validity of this proposition is examined by tracing trends in per capita income (NSDP) growth and Gini coefficients, estimated from the data on household consumer expenditure (taken as a proxy for income) of NSS surveys, in Kerala as compared to the pattern at all- India and major states during pre and post reform periods. [WP no. 401]