Centre for New Economic Studies

Executive Summary of the Report on

Access (In)Equality Index 2024 Report

For A Summary of AEI 2024 Report Findings Please See the Powerpoint Here

Access the 2021 Access (In)Equality Index Report from here

With the need for International Comparisons becoming pressing, income inequality has risen to the top of the social agenda in many countries. According to Oxfam report, “the  top 10% of the Indian population held 77% of the total national wealth. 73% of the wealth generated in 2017 went to the richest 1%, while 67 million Indians who comprise the poorest half of the population saw only a 1% increase in their wealth”.  The recent pandemic has further widened the existing income and wealth inequality significantly, both within and between countries(Goldin and Muggah (2020), Ghatak (2020), UN reports). India produced 70 new millionaires every day between 2018 and 2021(Oxfam, 2021),  while the number of people living in poverty increased by 75 million due to the pandemic, accounting for nearly 60 percent of the global increase in poverty.  

These evidences while informative is often criticized for not measuring the inequalities that are relevant from a social, economic or moral perspective (Lefranc. A et. al, 2007). Most of the studies have focused on inequality of outcome; income inequality from the economic, demographic and social process which generates the distribution of income. However, the discourse around income inequality does not reflect (in)equality of opportunity ( basic amenities, health care, education, access to justice and socio-economic security) that arise because of the circumstances that are beyond individual’s control including gender, family background, ethnicity, place of birth etc.  

The concept of equality of opportunity is rooted in the Rawlsian philosophical tradition whereby, people are expected to construct society in a way that they would be happy for their position in society to be determined by a random draw (Rawls (1971) and Dworkin (1981). He argued that social positions should be formally open to all and that each person should have a fair chance of attaining them. 

Over the years, with the development of literature, there now exists multiple interpretations of inequality of opportunity that arise because of factors or circumstances that are beyond an individual’s control. These include accessibility and availability of basic resources (Dworkin, 1981), primary goods such as basic liberties and rights, access to political and other offices (Rawls, 1971), public goods, quality of education or access to labor market opportunities, gender, family background, ethnicity, place of birth etc.  

Against this background, the objective of this report is to create an index to capture inequality among households and individuals by looking at access to various opportunities (capabilities), thus measuring uneven distribution of deprivations across the states and union territories in India. 

The definition of “Access” in this report is conceptualized to encompass the “4As”, namely 1) Availability 2) Affordability 3) Approachability and 4) Appropriateness. These four dimensions of “Access” are not only critical in addressing inequalities in accessing healthcare services but can be expanded to cover various other sectors including basic amenities, education, justice and for addressing socio-economic inequalities.  

The AEI framework illustrated in figure 1 below, therefore, measures five key pillars across 23 broad categories^[1] crucial to social and human development, each of which relates to an important opportunity for improving the overall quality of life and that has been found to be critical in reducing inequality. This multidimensional framework serves as a benchmark in assessing inequity in spatial and non-spatial access to social and economic opportunities across the states. 

Figure 1 (take from the report’s pdf attached hereby)

Please find the master excel file for the data used in producing the Index for public use and reference here

Indian Secularism: Adjective or Necessity? 

Volume 3 Issue IV
ISDS Special Issue on ‘Access (In)Equality Index

Volume 4: Issue I 
National Digitisation of Health Data: Exploring Possibilities and Challenges

InfoSphere is a space for fact-based, objective analysis on some of the most pressing contemporary issues of policy concern in South Asia (with a more focus on India).

The purpose of each Fact-Sheet, to be released on a monthly basis, is to provide a data-based narrative on an identified issue, allowing readers to understand, analyse and interpret facts critically from well-authenticated sources.

The Team’s sincere hope is that such form of analysis will allow a cohesive space for policy-diagnosis and discussion on key issues, where facts shown here, can help most shape more informed opinions than give way to personal conjecture or views reflecting deep prejudice or rhetoric.

COVID19’s Impact on Inequality: A Case Study Reflection from Peru, El Savador, India

Tracing Trends in Consumer Behavior and Sentiment During a Pandemic

InfoSphere Vol III Issue I:
Primer on Union Budget 2021-2022: A Brief Analysis of Past Trends

Infosphere Vol II Issue I
Analysis of India’s Health Infrastructure and It’s State of Development

Infosphere Vol II Issue II
A Comprehensive Analysis of India’s Union Budget 2021-22

Infosphere Vol II Issue III
Analysing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Regime in India

InfoSphere Vol III Issue III
What To Know Before Union Budget 2020-21? (A Primer On Past Trends)

InfoSphere Vol II Issue IV:
An Assessment of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme

InfoSphere Vol II Issue V:
The Status of Indian Agriculture and Role of APMC System

InfoSphere Vol. I Issue I
Interpreting The (Un)Employment Scenario in India 

InfoSphere Vol. I Issue III
Gauging The Economic Impact of The Great Lockdown and The Coronavirus Pandemic

Infosphere Vol I Issue IV
Understanding The Unemployment Scenario Across Emerging Economies: Reflections From China, Turkey, South Africa 

InfoSphere Vol. I Issue V
Broken Markets: Reflections From India’s Labor Landscape (Part I)

InfoSphere Vol. I Issue VI
Broken Markets: Reflections From India’s Labor Landscape (Part II)

InfoSphere Vol. I Issue VII
India’s Rising Debt Challenge

InfoSphere Vol. I Issue VIII 
Analyzing the Indian Education Market

InfoSphere Vol. I Issue IX 
Analyzing the Indian HealthCare Insurance Market

InfoSphere Vol. I Issue X

COVID19 Special Series comprises of an exclusive-series of analytical features published with research and news platforms across the world by CNES Research Team Members, assessing the political, economic and social impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Series was featured in Three Parts, Part I and Part II focus on the socio-economic impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on India. Part III focuses on the global scale of the impact and provides a set of informed arguments on how a post-coronavirus world may look like.

Part I of Special Series on COVID19 and Its Impact

Part II of Special Series on COVID19 and Its Impact

Part III of Special Series on COVID19 and Its Impact

Part IV & V of Special Series on COVID19, Its Socio-Economic Impact (Shram Ko Naman)

A New Future for Economics: Theory & Practice’ By Mr. Naresh Singh

• Panel Discussion :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEqH8DnHV3Y 

       Link to the Video Discussion – https://youtu.be/BztNn5IFeMY

1. Conference Report on “Conflict and Economic Development” (co-organized with the Centre for Study of Political Violence) [ PDF]
2. Draft Report on the 2015-16 CSPV Fellowship Program in Bihar, Assam (co-organized with the Centre for Study of Political Violence) [ PDF]  
3. Report on the 2016-17 Border Studies Winter School Program in Indo-Bhutan area (co-organized with the Centre for Study of Political Violence)

The research programs and activities spearheaded by CNES undertaken are innately interdisciplinary in nature and draw on contemporary debates emanating from economic history, behavioral sciences, international economics, development economics, and political science. 

In addition to the activities organized by CNES, the Centre offers credit-based elective courses on the following thematic areas (also open for cross-registration by students from all JGU schools):

• Political Economy of Late Development
• Public Law and Economics: An Introduction
• Political Economy of Doing Business in India
• Development Economics: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Development
• A Brief History of Economic Crises during 20th & 21st Century

Shram Ko Naman : A Photo Essay Series is a joint initiative by the Centre for New Economics Studies along with PAIGAM Network to showcase the plight of India’s unsecured, working class occupied across different strata. This Series was initiated in month of May, 2020 as part of the Shram Ko Naman initiative, when India’s working classes were struggling to find basic livelihood opportunities in making their ends meet. For more see here

The Centre for New Economic Studies is organising its 2019 edition of Inter-Disciplinary Student Workshop in Development Studies (ISDS 2019) on 21st September at the O.P. Jindal University campus.

Please check the Workshop Call for Papers by clicking here: 

Guest Lecture on “Israel Studies as a discipline in India” on 21st Jan 2019 [PDF]

The Centre for New Economic Studies is organising an Inter-Disciplinary Student Workshop in Development Studies (ISDS 2018) on March 3, 2018.

The one-day workshop will be held on campus, offering students from across different areas of social sciences to present working papers on Technology and Society and Agency of Women in Path to Development (under the sub-tracks provided). The workshop is open to students from different universities (in and outside Delhi) and welcomes abstracts on any of the identified themes.

Please find attached a detailed Concept Note with a Call for Abstracts for your reference. [PDF]

Details on Designated Roles of Association with Centre for New Economics Studies (CNES)

Columnists

Any student or interested writer can apply for a position of a Columnist for Nickeled & Dimed once an open call is announced every academic semester (i.e. twice a year). As part of the role, each selected columnist shall be assigned to a writing cluster on a given thematic area and will be guided by one of the editorial team members, who will be responsible for managing the writing cluster. Each Columnist is required to submit at least two written articles every month and these should be as per the editorial guidelines of Nickeled and Dimed. The term of association will be for 6 months at a minimum and extendable upto a year (based on the feedback received from the editorial team).

Columnists, like all other positions at the Centre, will be issued a Letter of Appreciation by the Centre’s Director at the end of their term in acknowledgment of their contributions. Associated writers and columnists, when applying for a Research Assistant/Analyst position, will stand a favourable chance for selection by the team due to their written contributions. Interested applicants can write to Nickeled and Dimed team at cnes.jgu@gmail.com

Research Assistant

Any student of the University can apply for the role of a Research Assistant when there is a call for applications before the beginning of a semester. A Research Assistant would be required to undertake administrative, research related responsibilities initiated by the Centre during a given semester. This may include working as part of the official research platform, Nickeled and Dimed; or, be part of the organising team of the policy discussion series, Politica; or, may include additional research responsibilities (including field-work for on-going research projects).  Any JGU student working as a Research Assistant with CNES would need to commit for a minimum period of a given semester and can work for a maximum of two Research Centres (including CNES) during their appointed term duration. Students with previous research article contributions towards Nickeled and Dimed will be encouraged during appointments made for the role.

For applications/queries: All interested students may email their expression of interest/queries to the Centre’s Director at dmohan@jgu.edu.in 

Research Analyst

Any individual interested in being part of the Centre who may not be officially associated with the University can apply for this role. The roles and responsibilities of a Research Analyst may be the same to that of a Research Assistant. Considering the applicant’s work experience and academic qualifications, the Centre’s Executive Team will notify the selected individual about the terms and conditions of an Analyst’s role and responsibilities (including stipend details-if applicable).   

For applications/queries: All interested individuals may email their expression of interest/queries with a copy of their CV to the Centre’s Executive Director at dmohan@jgu.edu.in

Senior Research Assistant

Research Assistants/Analysts who have been associated with the Centre for a considerable duration of time (at least for two semesters or more) and may express interest to continue their association with CNES can be considered for promotion to the role of a Senior Research Assistant/Analyst. In capacity of a senior role, students or young scholars will work on Centre-initiated research projects which includes students designing their own project proposals, in close coordination with the Executive team while administering other responsibilities. All Senior Research Assistants/Analysts will be paid a stipend amount for the research work contributed towards the end of the semester or the research project (whichever is earlier). 

Important: For all of the above roles (i.e. Research Assistant, Research Analyst and Senior Research Assistant), a Letter of Appreciation shall be issued to each individual after she/he completes her/his association with the Centre. The issued Letter will acknowledge details of all administrative responsibilities and research contributions made by Assistants/Analysts during their term with the Centre.