Publications

Top incomes

The survey shows that the share of the top 1% in aggregate household disposable income is 6%. The share of the top 10% in the aggregate...

Publications

Education effect

Top earners are likely to be better educated compared to others. Forty-six percent of breadwinners in the top percentile have at least a graduate...

Publications

Source of earnings

Top earners are most likely to be salaried, or owners of non-farm enterprises, suggest the survey—44% of the top percentile and 40% of the top...

Publications

Where top earners live

Urban India has been divided into four clusters: metros (population more than 5 million), boom towns (2.5- 5 million), niche cities (1-2.5 million)...

Publications

Asset ownership and investments

The proportion of top earners investing in equities and bonds, and purchasing insurance, is much higher than the all-India average. Seventy-two percent of the top...

Publications

Food and cash transfers

The poor use India's massive public distribution system (PDS) for food grains much more than the rich, and rate the quality of grains more favorably than richer income classes, a large-scale...

Articles

Asking the right questions

Just as non-cash shouldn't mandatorily be imposed, neither should cash. Why has this not figured on a reform agenda between 2004 and 2014, or much earlier?...

Articles

Let the numbers speak

The discussion on the fall in employment after the November 8 demonetisation relies on anecdotal evidence. It is not backed by data...

Articles

Looking at both sides of coin

For measuring the material well-being of bottom of the pyramid households, we need to follow an approach that takes into consideration both their income & expenditure...

Articles

Bridging the connectivity gap

While the government has announced a number of big impact schemes, the focus should now be on creating linkages between various departments and roping in stakeholders with different types of expertise...

Articles

Destabilise the Pyramid

The right to resources is increasingly becoming the major talking point in the country. The tussle is about how this pie of resources can be cut up more equitably to benefit...

Articles

Life in The Golden Era

If there is one product that has the unique distinction of being a consumer durable, savings instrument and a form of insurance all rolled into one, it is the yellow metal that...

Articles

Informal sector hit by Covid 2nd wave recovered: Survey

The informal sector faced a severe blow during the second wave of the pandemic, leading to a reduction in the number of units and workers. However, a gradual recovery was observed after the July quarter of 2021, according to the findings of an official survey reported by TOI. The annual survey of unincorporated sector enterprises (ASUSE) revealed the resilience of the informal sector, with the total number of establishments increasing from 5.8 crore in 2021-22 to 6.5 crore in 2022-23, marking a growth of nearly 5.9%.

Blog

Economic Recovery of Indian Households Post-COVID: Exceeding Expectations Yet Challenges Remain

This research report investigates the post-COVID economic recovery of Indian households, focusing on income distribution across different socio-economic strata. Utilizing data from the PRICE’s ICE 360 surveys, this study explores income trends from pre-COVID (2016), during COVID (2021), and post-COVID (2023) periods. The findings reveal a significant rebound in household incomes, particularly among the poorest households, suggesting a narrowing of income inequality. However, the report underscores the need for continued support and policy interventions to sustain and further this recovery.

Blog

Economic Mobility in India: A Decade of Shifts and Transformations

In the past decade, India has experienced significant changes in its economic landscape, particularly in the distribution of income across various segments of the population. This policy brief examines these shifts from 2015-16 to 2022-23, highlighting a dramatic reduction in poverty, a decline in the lower middle-income class, and notable growth in the middle and upper middle-income classes. These trends reflect the impacts of economic policies, the COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequent recovery efforts. The analysis underscores the need for targeted policies to sustain economic mobility and inclusiveness. Recommendations include strengthening poverty alleviation programs, supporting lower middle-income class mobility, enhancing middle-income class resilience, fostering inclusive growth, encouraging high-income sector growth, and continuously monitoring and adapting policies to emerging economic trends.