Title
Has Dietary Transition Slowed Down in India: An Analysis Based on 50th, 61st and 66th Rounds of NSS
Abstract
Our study examines changes in diets over the period 1993-2009. Diets have shifted away from cereals towards higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, oils and livestock products. Using household data, a food diversity index (FDI) is constructed, based on five food commodities. Significant price effects that vary over time are con
firmed, as also income/expenditure effects. Over and above these effects, more sedentary life styles and less strenuous activity patterns played a significant role in shaping dietary patterns. An important finding is slowing down of dietary transition among the poor-especially in rural areas-in the more recent sub-period 2004-09. Clues relate to weakening of food price, expenditure and life-style effects.
Keywords
Diets, Demand, Prices, Income, Environment, India
JEL Classification
C23, D12, I32
Inquiries
Formerly, Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi
Nidhi KAICKER
School of Business, Public Policy and Social Entrepreneurship, Ambedkar University Delhi
Katsushi S. IMAI
School of Social Sciences, the University of Manchester
and
Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration
Kobe University
Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe
657-8501 Japan
Phone: +81-78-803-7036
FAX: +81-78-803-7059
Vani S. KULKARNI
Department of Sociology, Yale University
Ganesh THAPA
International Fund for Agricultural Development, Rome