Household Level Consumption in India: A Study using NSS Unit Level Data

Abstract

Certain key aspects of Indian household level consumption are studied in the paper. It is discovered that consumption expenditure is inversely related to family size and directly to average age of household. Rural households are found to have increased consumption disparities over time as compared to urban households. Intra-state consumption disparities have also been studied. It is found that district level consumption dispersion among rural households has increased the most for Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Kerala, while among urban households it has increased the most for Kerala, Jharkhand and Orissa.