ESTIMATING THE DEMAND FOR CALORIES IN INDIA

This article examines the long-run relationship between per capita cal orie intake, per capita income, and food prices using aggregate data f or India, 1961-1992. Cointegration analysis yields an income elasticit y of calorie intake of 0.34, while the food-price elasticity is insign ificant. Thus, economic growth in India, as measured by increasing per capita income, has significantly improved calorie intake; future inco me growth can alleviate further inadequate nutrition. However, signifi cant improvements in calorie intake cannot be made directly by food su bsidies. A further result is that calorie intake is Granger-caused by income and not vice versa: income generation is unconstrained by calor ie intake.