TY - JOUR
T1 - Water scarcity and livelihoods in Bihar and West Bengal, India
AU - Ranganathan, Thiagu
AU - Ranjan, Ram
AU - Pradhan, Deepa
PY - 2018/10/2
Y1 - 2018/10/2
N2 - Through a cross-sectional survey of 1600 households, we analyse the impact of water scarcity on livelihood patterns of rural households in three districts of Bihar and West Bengal. We find significant correlation between water scarcity and livelihood profiles. Households involved in farming and rural labour, or a mix of farming, rural labour and enterprises, earn 30–50% less than what they would have earned through alternative livelihoods. Yet, 50% of the sampled households were engaged in farming and rural labour. When accounting for endogeneity, urban migration provides much higher returns compared to rural labour supply or entrepreneurship.
AB - Through a cross-sectional survey of 1600 households, we analyse the impact of water scarcity on livelihood patterns of rural households in three districts of Bihar and West Bengal. We find significant correlation between water scarcity and livelihood profiles. Households involved in farming and rural labour, or a mix of farming, rural labour and enterprises, earn 30–50% less than what they would have earned through alternative livelihoods. Yet, 50% of the sampled households were engaged in farming and rural labour. When accounting for endogeneity, urban migration provides much higher returns compared to rural labour supply or entrepreneurship.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85043459355&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13600818.2018.1447097
DO - 10.1080/13600818.2018.1447097
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85043459355
SN - 1360-0818
VL - 46
SP - 497
EP - 518
JO - Oxford Development Studies
JF - Oxford Development Studies
IS - 4
ER -