Title: A multivariate econometric perspective on distance learning and livelihood status in India

Authors: Unmilan Kalita

Addresses: Department of Economics, Cotton University, India

Abstract: Open and distance learning (ODL) has stood as a pivot pillar of India's framework for education, wherein knowledge has reached the country's nooks and corners, indirectly propelling its growth and development for decades. The main objective of this study is to examine whether ODL impacts livelihood status of people in India. The study involves a multivariate analysis of ODL's effect on livelihood, considering India's GDP per capita (state-wise) as proxy for the livelihood variable. Observations indicate that ODL exerts significant positive impact on GDP per capita, strongly underlining the case for pursuing ODL policy in the states. The impact of India's gender parity index, life expectancy at birth, human development index (HDI) and self-help groups (SHG) on GDP per capita is studied while their interrelationship with ODL is observed through a bivariate analysis.

Keywords: open and distance learning; ODL; gross domestic product; livelihood; human development index; HDI; life expectancy at birth; self help groups; SHG; India.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKL.2020.111135

International Journal of Knowledge and Learning, 2020 Vol.13 No.4, pp.287 - 298

Received: 16 Mar 2020
Accepted: 22 Apr 2020
Published online: 10 Nov 2020 *

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