The Economic Burden of Disability in India: Estimates from the NSS Data
32 Pages Posted: 5 May 2014
Date Written: February 24, 2014
Abstract
The paper estimates the economic cost to family when a household member loses job due to onset of disability. The cost measured in terms of loss in the ‘conversion handicap’ adjusted per capita household consumption and estimated using the Indian National Sample Survey (NSS) data. Estimates of the loss by state, by rural-urban place of residence, and by the type of disability are given. The paper recommends a publicly provided actuarially fair social disability insurance program that taxes workers while working and provides disability benefits close to their pre-disability earnings to improve social welfare by preventing large consumption losses.
Keywords: economic burden of disability, disability in India, cost of disability in India
JEL Classification: I12
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