J Korean Med Sci.  2015 Nov;30(Suppl 2):S131-S133. 10.3346/jkms.2015.30.S2.S131.

Limits to Economic Growth: Why Direct Investments Are Needed to Address Child Undernutrition in India

• Subramanian SV
• Subramanyam MA

• KMID: 2351149
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2015.30.S2.S131

Abstract

About two of every five undernourished young children of the world live in India. These high levels of child undernutrition have persisted in India for several years, even in its relatively well-developed states. Moreover, this pattern was observed during a period of rapid economic growth. Evidence from India and other developing countries suggests that economic growth has little to no impact on reducing child undernutrition. We argue that a growth-mediated strategy is unlikely to be effective in tackling child undernutrition unless growth is pro-poor and leads to investment in programs addressing the root causes of this persistent challenge.

Keyword

Child Undernutrition; Economic Growth; Growth-mediated Strategy; Supported Strategy; India

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Child
Child Nutrition Disorders/*economics/epidemiology/*prevention & control
Child, Preschool
Cost of Illness
Developing Countries/economics
*Economic Development
Female
Humans
India/epidemiology
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Investments/*economics
Male
Malnutrition/*economics/epidemiology/*prevention & control
Nutritional Status
Prevalence