Employment creation or environmental improvements: A literature review of urban poverty and policy in India

This paper provides a general literature review on the question of Indian urban poverty with the object of considering the importance of an employment creation or environmental improvement approach to poverty alleviation. The literature clearly shows the importance of the labour market in terms of segments and casualisation, gender and short run shocks in explaining the incidence of poverty. However, the independent nature of environmental problems is also highlighted. In conclusion, the policy implication is that both employment creation and environmental improvements are necessary.