The book ‘Fundamentals of Multi-dimensional Poverty and Income Inequality’ consists of two sections. In section I, the multi-dimensional poverty index was developed and in section II, the income inequality was discussed. In section I, the concept, measurement, relation between multi-dimensional poverty index and growth, multi-dimensional poverty index and inequality, rural and urban multi-dimensional poverty index, global multi-dimensional poverty are the central areas of study where region-wise and country-wise empirical findings have been included. Some important researches on multi-dimensional poverty and policy recommendations are also included. India’s multi-dimensional poverty index decomposing into all Indian states and the districts of West Bengal were studied exclusively under comparative analysis during the period between 2015-16 and 2019-21. In section II, income inequality in the world, high income economies, middle income economies, African countries and South Asian countries were extensively studied showing empirical findings of trends, causes, policies of income inequalities with the help of World Inequality Database. The book has incorporated huge research studies in all categories. USA, UK, France, Germany, Australia and Canada are taken as high-income economies. Brazil, China, Mexico, Malaysia, Russia have been considered in middle income economies. Burkina Faso, Botswana, Cote d Ivorie, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, South Africa and Zambia were included in African Countries. India, Bangladesh and Pakistan are considered in South Asian countries. There are wide differences of the nature of trends, causes and historical perspectives of income inequalities among those countries so that policies differ consequently as recommended by many international institutions as well as national governments. Special emphasis was given to analyse the income inequality in India considering long run analysis for the period from 1951 to 2021. However, income inequality is a sensitive issue in economics where the motives, goals on developmental policy on the part of national government matter. Sociological and political history of inequality is also a serious concern that is fully related with the trends of income inequality. Presently, income inequality is not a natural evolutionary character of economic development rather it depends on global economic development process where every nation has equal role to play.

I hope that the book will help them who are interested in poverty and income inequality.

 Dr. Debesh Bhowmik

  Kolkata,20.11.2023