A multidimensional Lorenz dominance relation

This paper seeks to extend the unidimensional notion of Lorenz dominance to the multidimensional context. It formulates a definition of a multidimensional Lorenz dominance relation (MLDR) on the set of alternative distributions of well-being in an economy by incorporating a generalization of the well-known transfer principle of unidimensional theory suggested in recent literature. It also proposes two conditions which an MLDR may reasonably be required to satisfy. The paper notes that the existing literature does not seem to contain an example of an MLDR satisfying these two conditions and suggests one that does. The suggested MLDR does not seem to have appeared in the literature before.     

Different Approaches to Identify the Poor: Do They converge?

In this paper, the convergence among four main approaches (monetary, capability, social exclusion and participatory) of identifying the poor and estimating poverty has been calculated based on data collected from Kesla block of Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh state in India. The results suggest that there are divergences among these methods indicting that one method cannot be substituted for others.     

An autopsy-based evaluation of deaths of homeless unknown persons (HUPs)

Background: India is a significant host to homeless unknown persons (HUPs) and subsequently to their untimely deaths due to various reasons. The autopsy-based evaluation has been always important in knowing the exact reasons behind it. Objective: To know about the epidemiological mortality profile such as magnitude, cause and manner of death, seasonality, and year-wise distribution of their untimely and unattended deaths. Materials and Methods: A retrospective autopsy-based evaluation of unnatural deaths among HUPs was done at LHMC, New Delhi for a total duration of 5 years (January 2006 to December 2010). Results: Out of 749 cases in the study group in this duration, 536 deaths have been caused due to some natural events and 213 due to some unnatural events. Among the natural deaths, the pulmonary pathology did contribute for 509 cases. Conclusion: The study population is a vulnerable segment of the society which often suffers the extreme adversity of natural and unnatural events in the form of their deaths. It is a significant host to the pulmonary infections that often spread to the other segments of the society at the point of contact. Thereby it deserves an urgent public health intervention and a policy response for the same for the well-being of HUPs and the general public at large.     

Focusing on Disability and Access in the Built Environment

This paper provides a documentation and discussion of the diverse experiences that different disabled people have with regards to access in the built environment. It begins by outlining the various ways in which disabled people's access needs and requirements are articulated in public policies and practices towards the development and regulation of the built environment. As the material indicates, disabled people's needs are poorly articulated and/or represented in the design and development of the built environment while the regulatory controls which oversee disabled people's access are weak. In the second part of the paper, disabled people's values, attitudes and practices towards access in the built environment are discussed by referring to the findings of focus group research. The material shows that many disabled people feel estranged and oppressed by facets of the built environment and generally feel powerless to do anything about it. We conclude by suggesting a number of ways of interconnecting the design and implementation of public policy towards the built environment with the daily lived experiences of disabled people.     

Lifecycle-consistent female labor supply with nonlinear taxes: evidence from unobserved effects panel data models with censoring,selection and endogeneity

This paper uses the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) from 1979 to 2007 to estimate within-period lifecycle-consistent labor supply elasticities of US females in a two-stage budgeting framework. The paper combines a variety of econometric approaches to estimate unobserved effects panel data models with censoring, selection and endogeneity. The paper finds evidence of substantial upward bias in estimated wage elasticities from pooled panel models which do not account for unobserved effects, as fixed effects and correlated random effects (CRE) specifications yield smaller elasticities. Estimates are also somewhat sensitive to using a lifecycle-consistent specification versus a standard static model. The lifecycle-consistent wage elasticity from a CRE model with instrumental variables is 0.56 on the extensive margin and 0.31 on the intensive margin for an overall wage elasticity of 0.87. The standard static model, on the other hand, yields a wage elasticity of 0.46 on the extensive margin and 0.13 on the intensive margin for an overall elasticity of 0.59.     

Exploring the Rural-Agrarian Linkages of Human Trafficking: A Study of the Indian Punjab

This article explores the rural-agrarian linkages of human trafficking in the Indian Punjab. The study argues that ongoing agrarian crises, high risk-taking ability of some agrarian castes and low level of education in rural areas are fuelling the illicit business of human trafficking of Punjabis to foreign green pastures. Rural-agrarian communities are the main victims of the traffickers' exploitation. The study has wider policy implications as it suggests policy-makers should formulate a comprehensive policy framework for rural areas of Punjab to ensure the “3P” paradigm – prevention, protection and prosecution – of human trafficking.