Asset Accumulation and Nutrition: Statistical Exploration of Village Level Studies

This paper has documented the empirical evidence that analyses the linkages between family based assets with individual based nutritional indicator, BMI. The paper is based on the dynasty dataset constructed based on Village Level Studies (VLS) dataset generated by International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) for the period 1975–84 (generation 1), 2001–2008 (generation 2) and Village Dynamics Studies in Asia (VDSA) dataset for the period 2009–2013. Analysis has been carried out by classifying the dynasty households into four groups, viz. low, medium, high and very high, based on the three year average of latest survey years (2011–2013) net assets value. The respondents in the VLS/VDSA study villages have experienced economic development by way of enhancement in income levels, assets and education levels. The analysis has revealed that though the absolute levels of all wealth indicators have gone up, the relative position of the people at the lowest level of asset distribution has remained same. Irrespective of the asset groups, around 51–58 per cent of the members were under-weight in the initial survey year 1975–76. The nutritional mobility measure indicates that only 15 per cent of parents’ nutritional condition is transmitted to their children. Further research and strong evidence is required to explore the linkages between the asset accumulation and nutritional status.