District level poverty estimation: a spatial approach

The paper uses the procedure for estimating regional consumer price index numbers based on the estimation of itemspecific region wise Engel curves. Given the problem of unavailability of official district level poverty lines, the same are estimated by multiplying the official state level poverty line by the district level price indices estimated taking state as the base region. The poverty measures adjusted for the district level poverty lines, give a clearer picture for the spatial variations in levels of living across the districts of West Bengal, an eastern state of India.