Siladitya Chaudhuri

While survey design and scale can address sampling error, the scale of the survey can paradoxically become the main source of non-sampling errors, such as those arising from non-response, coverage, measurement and processing. In particular, little is known about the bias resulting from non-response due to the respondent's incapacity to answer the questions. This paper attempts an assessment of the prevalence of such non-response errors across different categories of respondents. It evaluates the impact of these errors on estimation of monthly per capita consumption expenditure, using data from the 61st round of the National Sample Survey. Finally, it suggests alternative estimates for consumption expenditure as well as headcount ratios for poverty for selected major states, derived after eliminating the effect of non-response. The reliability of such estimates is also reported.

Read more about Large-Scale Socio-Economic Surveys

Levels of Living and Poverty Patterns: A District-Wise Analysis for India

Vol. 44, Issue No. 09, 28 Feb, 2009

Nivedita Gupta, Siladitya Chaudhuri

Most of the contemporary studies of level of living and poverty concentrate only on state-level averages. In view of the growing divergence both between and within the states, disaggregated studies are necessary for accurate identification of the critical areas calling for policy intervention. In the National Sample Survey Organisation's Consumer Expenditure Survey held in 2004-05, the sample design had taken districts as strata in both the rural and urban sectors, which makes it possible to get unbiased estimates of parameters at the district level. This paper presents a profile of levels of living, poverty and inequality for all the districts of the 20 major states of India. An attempt has also been made to map poverty in the districts to examine their spatial disparity within and across the states.