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Price Heterogeneity and "Real" Inequality

A Case-Study of Prices and Poverty in Rural South India

Vijayendra Rao

Paper  208kb pdf

This paper, based upon a case-study of three Indian villages, studies whether households within the same market pay different prices for identical goods. It is found that not only are unit prices for food heterogeneous, but that the poor pay more for the same goods than the rich. This is because liquidity constraints force poorer households to purchase goods in small quantities and consequently subject them to quantity premiums. Household specific index numbers are used to adjust nominal incomes to real values and it is found that Gini coefficients of real incomes are between 12 percent to 23 percent greater than the Gim for nominal incomes. An econometric analysis of the determinants of prices shows that incomes are negatively correlated with prices, as is family size, but that the amount of land owned shows a positive relationship.

About the Author

Vijayendra Rao
Economist
World Bank

Publication Information

Type Network Paper
Program Poverty
Posted 04/15/05
Download 208kb pdf
# Pages 11