Investigating Regional Inequalities in India: Are Indian Districts Converging?

Abstract

The study examines the regional inequalities in India across 315 districts during 1999/2000–2010/2011. For examining convergence, parametric and non‐parametric tests are employed. Findings reveal that absolute and conditional convergences hold for the entire time period. Analysis of intra‐period convergence reveals an overall divergence during 1999–2005 and convergence during 2005–2011. Conditional variables included the number of bank branches, literacy rate and pupil–teacher ratio. Results for σ convergence reveal a higher level of dispersion during 1999–2005 and a sharp decline thereafter. These results are supported by Kernel density plots. The study reveals that Indian districts exhibited convergent behaviour only after 2005. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Digital Transformation for Inclusive and Sustainable Development in Asia

“…However, this aspect requires deeper scrutiny through qualitative analysis as a higher pupil-teacher ratio is not beneficial for the students for better educational outcomes. This is so because a limited number of teachers in relation to the number of students cannot give adequate attention to all the students (Tiwari, Bhattacharjee, and Chakrabarti 2020), whereas a smaller studentteacher ratio can contribute to a better student experience, better engagement, and improved academic performance (Singh and Sarkar 2015). Hence, a higher student-teacher ratio may be reflected in higher enrollment, but may not necessarily ensure quality education.…”

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Regional polarization in Turkey

“…In a recent paper, Tiwari et al. (2020) examine the regional inequalities in India across regions during periods of 1999/2000 and 2010/2011 and search for whether there is a convergence between regions.…”

“…They find that there exist two groups, with provinces converging within each of these two groups, but not between these groups. In a recent paper, Tiwari et al (2020) examine the regional inequalities in India across regions during periods of 1999/2000 and 2010/2011 and search for whether there is a convergence between regions.…”