∞
ΓsJ
Note: Figure in the parenthesis shows the White Heteroskedasticity-Consistent Standard Errors
* -implies coefficient is significant at most at 0.10 level.
40
4.8 The Changing Perspective
Table 8 highlights the evolving economic growth-EQ-HDI profile
of the States. The overall growing trend of the Indian economy has
been reflected here at the State level as well, and barring the exception
of laggards like Bihar, Orissa and UP, all other States have registered a
growth rate higher than 6 percent. Although Rajasthan has registered
a high growth rate, it has started from a low base. It is observed that
Bihar, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh have achieved their economic growth
at the cost of their environmental quality. On the other hand, States
like Karnataka and Rajasthan have achieved high economic growth, at
the same time maintaining their environmental quality. It is observed
that Punjab, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh show a comparable level of
economic growth (6.5 to 6.7 %); but while Kerala and AP have positive
changes in EQ score, the same for Punjab is negative. On the other
hand, although UP, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Karnataka, have achieved
different levels of economic growth, the changes in environmental quality
is quite similar for these four States.
The last column of Table 8 enables us to compare the economic
growth-HDI scenario for the States. It is observed that high economic
growth ofWest Bengal did not result in incremental benefits of human
well-being. Both for Orissa and West Bengal, economic growth actually
has negative impacts on incremental benefits of human development.
On the other hand, high economic growth of Haryana, Tamil Nadu and
Rajasthan has left significant impact on their human well-being.
Interestingly, the impact Ofeconomic growth on incremental benefits
of HD is minimum for Bihar and Punjab, who are placed at polar opposite
ends on the economic growth scale. While for Bihar a vicious cycle is
most likely at work, it seems Punjab has reached a plateau on HD front
and a major effort is required for ensuring further benefits.