Sonalde Desai explains the impact of India's food subsidies on child nutrition
Analyzing the impact of India's National Food Security Act (NFSA) in terms of the relationship between food subsidies and child nutrition, using data from the India Human Development Survey of 2004-05 and 2011-12, faculty associate Sonalde Desai finds that the relationship may be weak due to choices that households make about nutrition and other purchases based on the type of subsidy offered. Specifically, subsidies tied to specific items like grains may increase grain intake while reducing the consumption of other foods necessary for nutrition, and households may instead choose to spend savings on other items including healthcare and education. Dr. Desai suggests policy measures including cash transfers to help households maintain or improve child nutrition as a result of public distribution systems for food.