Title: Counterintuitive behaviour: evidence from Indian public distribution system

Authors: Virupaxi Bagodi

Addresses: Government Engineering College, Talakal, 583238, India

Abstract: Governments in developing countries offer many schemes to provide for the basic subsistence of the poorer section of the society. Public distribution system is one such scheme by the Government of India to provide food grains at minimum price (for e.g., INR 1 per kg of rice). Such schemes tend to increase the comfort level as the savings from such schemes are invested in necessities. However, it is well documented in literature that societal systems exhibit counterintuitive behaviour. This is demonstrated in this paper. A structured survey was conducted in two phases. The results indicate increase in the standard of living, but the people's productivity and health have decreased.

Keywords: counterintuitive behaviour; India; public distribution system; PDS; social systems.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2022.124859

International Journal of Sustainable Society, 2022 Vol.14 No.2, pp.93 - 103

Received: 21 Mar 2021
Accepted: 19 Mar 2022
Published online: 11 Aug 2022 *

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