Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/45160 
Year of Publication: 
2008
Series/Report no.: 
WIDER Research Paper No. 2008/40
Publisher: 
The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), Helsinki
Abstract: 
This paper measures the vulnerability of households in rural India, based upon the ICRISAT panel survey. We employ both ex ante and ex post measures of vulnerability. The latter are decomposed into aggregate and idiosyncratic risks and poverty components. Our decomposition shows that idiosyncratic risks account for the largest share, followed by poverty and aggregate risks. Despite some degree of risk-sharing, the landless or small farmers are vulnerable to idiosyncratic risks, forcing them to reduce consumption. Income-augmenting policies therefore must be combined with those that not only reduce aggregate and idiosyncratic risks but also build resilience against them.
Subjects: 
aggregate risks
idiosyncratic risks
poverty
vulnerability
semi-arid conditions
JEL: 
C21
C23
I32
C61
ISBN: 
978-92-9230-088-3
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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