Ethnicity and gender differences in risk, ambiguity attitude

We analyze gender difference in risk and ambiguity attitude of subjects across two different ethnicities that differ in the degree of female empowerment. Santal is a patriarchal tribe and Khasi is a matrilineal tribe with men and women being the social head in their respective societies. We compare subject's willingness to take up risk and ambiguity for themselves and on behalf of others. Besides we analyze the differences in risk and ambiguity attitude of subjects from these societies. Our findings show that women in both societies are significantly more risk averse, but not ambiguity averse. Patriarchal male and female are more risk averse in group risk than in individual risk but matrilineal subjects are not. Therefore, higher risk aversion in group is an ethnic trait among Santals. Comparing the between ethnicity differences we find that matrilineal subjects are more risk averse than patriarchal subjects. Regarding attitudes towards ambiguity, we did not find any gender or ethnicity differences

Indian Economic Outlook 2008-09 and 2009-10

This paper provides an outlook for the Indian economy in the light of the extraordinary global financial crisis, that started in the US, but which has now transformed into the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. The Indian economy was slowing down even before the onset of global crisis and so the timing of this external shock could not have been worse. The analysis undertaken for this paper shows that the global crisis is likely to bring the Indian GDP growth rate down considerably. This will pose a big challenge requiring urgent and sustained policy attention to prevent this downturn from becoming unnecessarily prolonged. There is real downside risk that the growth rate could plummet to the pre-1980s levels if appropriate countercyclical measures are not taken immediately and are not urgently followed by necessary structural reforms. The paper provides a short-term forecast for GDP growth based on a model of leading economic indicators. We present three scenarios in the paper assuming differentiated impact of the external crisis. Finally the paper suggests a set of policy measures to get the Indian economy back on the path of sustained rapid and inclusive growth.Forecasting, Indian economic growth, Economic outlook and conditions, Financial crises

Market discrimination, market participation and control over revenue: A gendered analysis of Cameroon's cocoa producers

Using micro level data from Cameroon this paper applies the theories of intrahousehold bargaining to models in which female farmers decide whether to take up cocoa marketing on their own or to rely on others to sell the product. We analyze the effect of marketing on control over the proceeds. We find that controlling both production and marketing provides higher bargaining power over proceeds compared to a situation in which the farmer participates only in production and delegate the task of marketing to another family member. Our data also indicate that in the cocoa sector of Cameroon, female farmers' market participation is hindered by existing price discrimination, which in turn reduces their intrahousehold bargaining power. In other words, participating female farmers receive much lower prices for their produce than participating males. To generate higher revenue, female farmers hand over the marketing responsibility to a male in the family. Such non-participation results in lower control over the proceeds by the female farmer, as the individual doing the marketing can now claim a higher share in the revenue. Additionally we find that collective marketing contributes to eliminating price discrimination and promoting female market participation and thus their control over proceeds

Poverty and deprivation in India: Divergence between consumption and asset based estimates (NIAS/SSc/IHD/U/WP/10/2021)

Consumption expenditure has been widely used in India to estimate poverty. It has recently been argued that these estimates have several weaknesses and an asset based index is a better indicator of deprivation. Building on the asset based indicator developed earlier, this paper estimates deprivation in India. It looks at two specific aspects of deprivation: (i) region and time-wise variations in deprivation in terms of absolute and relative deprivation, (ii)difference between deprivation and consumption-based poverty. The results suggest that there is a difference in the regional ranking of poverty depending on whether to consider the immediate consumption expenditure or the longer term picture of vulnerability provided by the asset based indicator of deprivation

Volunteering to take on power: Experimental evidence from matrilineal and patriarchal societies in India

Gender equity in the creation and enforcement of social norms is important not only as a normative principle but it can also support long term economic growth. Yet in most societies, coercive power is in the hands of men. We investigate whether this form of segregation is due to inherent gender differences in the willingness to volunteer for take on positions of power. In order to study whether potential differences are innate or driven by social factors, we implement a public goods game with endogenous third-party punishment in matrilineal and patriarchal societies in India. Our findings indicate that segregation in coercive roles is due to conformity with pre-assigned gender roles in both cultures. We find that women in the matrilineal society are more willing to assume the role of norm enforcer than men while the opposite is true in the patriarchal society. Moreover, we find that changes in the institutional environment that are associated with a decrease in the exposure and accountability of the norm enforcer, result in increased participation of the segregated gender. Our results suggest that the organizational environment can be adjusted to increase representation of women in positions of power, and that it is critical to take the cultural context into account

Render Authenticity: Revisiting Intangible Heritage to Reflect on Historical Structure Network

Shakhari Bazar in Old Dhaka, Bangladesh, was one of the first streets to be built in the region of South Asia, using the river network as major transportation route and home to invaluable artisans in the 17th century. It is a sanctuary to a specific ethnic group, and the only known home to some craftsmen. Therefore, this street is a rich treasure of both tangible heritage and ‘intangible heritage’. Unfortunately, the survival of these crafts is under threat, as the artisans seem to be changing their livelihood due to disconnected cultural ecology. With the help of its artisan inhabits, Old Dhaka has been an area with buildings of architectural beauty as well as historical, religious and cultural significance since 1608. “They are eloquent testimony to the history, culture and tradition. These buildings are ‘images’ of the past with which people still identify Old Dhaka”. But sadly, most of these historical buildings are either diminishing through ignorant renovations or collapsing due to neglect, resulting in hazardous living conditions for the unique artisans and migrants. If these present conditions persist, it will not be long until many of these structures, along with the intangible heritages they house, are lost forever. Comprehensive research has led me to propose multi-disciplinary schematic strategies of spatial interventions that aim to rationalize the decentralized elements of craftsmanship through formalized institutionalization thereby encouraging dialogue, as well as additional schematic strategies that could reconstruct heritage structures and promote inclusion of the locals and artisans of Shakhari Bazar. To establish a sustainable conservation of the tangible and intangible heritages of Shakhari Bazar, and maintain the integrity of the live heritages they house, it is essential to pursue both these strategies simultaneously. This thesis proposes to instigate a healthy and informed dialogue between the formal bodies and informal systems of Shakhari Bazar to create a common goal of sustainable micro economy that refuses to accept uniformity and the disappearance of memory

MEDICINES FROM INDIAN CHILLIES: A MINI REVIEW

ABSTRACTIndia is a country with vast biodiversity. The country is rich in its natural resources. Varieties of spices, herbs, plants, and trees are grown in variousparts of the country, which have more than one use. Most of them are rich source of nutrition, some are popular spices, and some have exclusivemedicinal uses also. The objective of this article is to give a brief and compact review of the various types of chillies available in India, to discuss theirversatile potential medicinal values, and to consider those for developing some potent and effective drugs with minimum or no side effects for widerange of pathological conditions. Indian traditional medicine is famous all around the world and for ages and now a days, Indian biodiversity hasimmense contribution in the development and advancement of alternative and complementary medicine. Chillies are one of the popular spices inIndia. They add the burning hot taste and wonderful color to Indian dishes. Not only in India, chillies are used all over the world in various dishes. Wehave primarily studies various investigatory reports available from all around the world to develop our insight into the medicinal potency of varietiesof chillies grown in various parts of India. Several investigations have revealed the presence of various compounds in the chillies. Those compoundshave been found to be of medicinal importance. Some of them have multiple medicinal applications. More of those are yet to be characterized. Moreand more structured and collaborative detailed investigations are required to recognize, characterize, and modify the various potent medicinalcompounds from different types of chillies. In silico, experimental, and clinical studies are also essential. We may get some revolutionary compoundswith potent medicinal properties for enriching our pharmaceutical ammunitions against fatal and deadly diseases from those hot green and redchillies. It can really be a beneficial milestone on the pharmaceutical world and a boon for mankind.Keywords: Biodiversity, Chillies, Nutrition, Alternative medicine, Complementary medicine

Inequality and Farmers' Suicides in India (NIAS Working Paper WP5-2016)

The phenomenon of suicide by farmers has in recent years tended to dominate the discourse on rural India. Between 1995 and 2014, more than 300,000 farmers have committed suicide in the country (Basu, Das, & Misra, 2016). There have been several studies pointing to the significance of the phenomenon as well as the magnitude of the distress that goes with it. Underlying several of these studies is a role for inequality in this phenomenon. The emphasis on farmers’ suicides suggests that there is an inequality in the vulnerability of different groups to suicide, with farmers having a greater vulnerability than others. Again, the presentation of farmers’ suicides as a national crisis suggests that while there may be regional inequality in the vulnerability to suicide, all states face the same crisis. And if we were to go beyond the existing literature, there is the question of whether inequality can be a cause of farmers’ suicides. This paper seeks to explore each of these roles for inequality in the patterns of farmers’ suicides. While such an exploration may help us better understand the nature of farmers’suicides, this paper does not claim to provide a comprehensive explanation for the phenomenon. It begins with an exploration of the relative vulnerability of different groups to suicide; it then explores the nature of regional inequality in farmers’ suicides; before ending with a preliminary exploration of the relationship between inequality, poverty and farmers’ suicide

Volunteering to take on power: Experimental evidence from matrilineal and patriarchal societies in India

Gender equity in the creation and enforcement of social norms is important not only as a normative principle but it can also support long term economic growth. Yet in most societies, coercive power is in the hands of men. We investigate whether this form of segregation is due to gender differences in the willingness to volunteer for take on positions of power. In order to study whether potential differences are innate or driven by social factors, we implement a public goods game with endogenous third-party punishment in matrilineal and patriarchal societies in India. Our findings indicate that segregation in coercive roles is due to conformity with pre-assigned gender roles in both cultures. We find that women in the matrilineal society are more willing to assume the role of norm enforcer than men while the opposite is true in the patriarchal society. Moreover, we find that changes in the institutional environment that are associated with a decrease in the exposure and retaliation against the norm enforcer, result in increased participation of the segregated gender. Our results suggest that the organizational environment can be adjusted to increase the representation of women in positions of power, and that it is critical to take the cultural context into account