Is the Value Added Tax Reform in India Poverty-Improving? An Analysis of Data from Two Major States

PMMA Working Paper No. 2007-18

31 Pages Posted: 8 May 2007

See all articles by Ajitava Raychaudhuri

Ajitava Raychaudhuri

Jadavpur University

Sudip Kumar Sinha

Government of West Bengal - Department of Finance (Revenue)

Poulomi Roy

Jadavpur university

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: May 2007

Abstract

The Value Added Tax (VAT) was introduced in India in place of Sales Tax, taking effect in April 1, 2005. These taxes are in the domain of different state governments within the country's federal set up. Although VAT is widely acclaimed to be a better system than the sales tax on grounds of efficiency in tax collection, no study has been undertaken to assess the impact of this reform measure on social equity. This paper addresses this need with the use of concentration curves and consumption dominance curves of various orders. The simulations were done on two major states in India, namely Maharashtra and West Bengal, using National Sample Survey Unit Level data for the 55th round. The results show that the reform is largely pro-poor, although there are ways to improve it with respect to some items predominantly consumed by the relatively poorer groups.

Keywords: Value Added Tax, Marginal Tax Reform, Public Distribution System, Concentration curve, Lorenz ratio, Marginal Efficiency Cost of Funds, Consumption Dominance

JEL Classification: D12, D63, H21, H22, H71, I32

Suggested Citation

Raychaudhuri, Ajitava and Sinha, Sudip Kumar and Roy, Poulomi, Is the Value Added Tax Reform in India Poverty-Improving? An Analysis of Data from Two Major States (May 2007). PMMA Working Paper No. 2007-18, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=984321 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.984321

Ajitava Raychaudhuri (Contact Author)

Jadavpur University ( email )

188, Raja S.C. Mallick Rd, Kolkata 700032
Calcutta, West Bengal 700032
India
913324146328 (Phone)

Sudip Kumar Sinha

Government of West Bengal - Department of Finance (Revenue) ( email )

Kolkata 700072, West Bengal
India

Poulomi Roy

Jadavpur university ( email )

kolkata, West Bengal 700032
India

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