Whatever
Whatever
NEPAL
A Seminar paper
By
Anuja Pokhrel
TU Registration: 7-2-288-4-2022
Second Semester
Submitted to:
BBA Department
Tribhuwan University
Jan, 2024
i
Recommendation Letter
………………………..
Signature of Supervisor
Date:
ii
TABLE OF CONTENT
Content Page no.
Title i
Recommendation Letter ii
List of Table iv
Abbreviation v
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Paper 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 2
1.3 Objectives 2
1.4 Methodology 3
1.5 Structure of the Paper 3
CHAPTER II: DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS
2.1 Literature Review 4
2.2 Data Presentation and Analysis 12
2.3 Findings 13
CHAPTER III: CONCLUSION
3.1 Conclusion 15
References
iii
List of Table
from 2008-22
iv
Abbreviations
v
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
Fernando (2023) stated that inflation is a raise in prices, which can be translated as the
decline of purchasing power over time. Similarly, Kinsey (2022) stated that inflation
is the gradual loss of purchasing power, reflected in a broad rise in prices for goods
and services. Similarly, Friedman (1977) stated that mild inflation is considered to be
desirable for economic growth. However, high and variable inflation, in general, leads
to uncertainties in income and expenditure decisions of the different groups of the
society; distorts economic growth; lowers savings and investments; and makes more
expensive cost of capital. High inflation is more likely to raise unemployment than to
lower it.
According to international monetary fund (n.d.), inflation measures how much more
expensive a set of goods and services has become over a certain period, usually a
year.
The inflation rate in Nepal was varied over the years. According to Nepal Rastra
Bank, the average inflation rate in Nepal from 1964 until 2023 was 8.02 percent, with
the highest recorded inflation rate of 30.42percent in May 1996 and the lowest
recorded inflation rate of -11.54 percent in May 1967. In 2019, the inflation rate was
5.57 percent, an increase of 1.51 percent from 2018. In 2020, the inflation rate was
5.05 percent, a decline of 0.52 percent from 2019. In 2021, the inflation rate was 4.09
percent, a decline of 0.96 percent from2020.
Inflation in the Nepalese economy can have several impacts. High inflation can erode
the purchasing power of the currency, leading to increased prices for goods and
services. This can adversely affect consumers' standards of living, particularly those
on fixed incomes. Businesses may also face challenges as rising costs of production
and uncertainty about future prices can impact investment decisions. Additionally,
inflation can disrupt economic planning and distort resource allocation. Nepal Rastra
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Bank often strives to maintain stable inflation to promote economic stability.
Managing inflation effectively is crucial for sustaining economic growth and ensuring
the well-being of individuals and businesses in Nepal.
Mandala (2019) examined the rise in prices of goods and services and fall of
purchasing power of people due to inflation. The main objective of the study was to
analyze the casual relationship between inflation and economic growth with their
nature and trend by analyzing the secondary data’s from 1974/75 to 2016/17, the
article concluded that there is a positive and significant impact of real GDP in
inflation in Nepal, implying that higher economic growth leads to higher inflation.
Sharma (2019) stated the problem of poverty exacerbated by inflation arises as rising
price outplaces the slow adjustment of wages, diminishing the purchasing power of
poor. This leads to a decline in real income, making essential commodities
unaffordable for the impoverished, ultimately increasing the impact of inflation on
poverty. The objective of the text is to explore the relationship between inflation and
poverty, examining how inflation impacts the poor, It delves into economic indicators,
define poverty from income and consumption perspectives, and analyze historical
trends and studies to understand the dynamics of inflations effect on poverty.
Chaudhary (2018) stated that the inflation is major concern for the Nepalese
economy, as it affects the living standards of the people and the macroeconomic
variables. The main objective was to examine the impacts of macroeconomics
variables, such as money supply, real GDP, and Indian prices, on the inflation in
Nepal during 1975-2016. The Paper finds that all the variables considered are
significant in the long run, implying that they are the determinants of inflation in
Nepal. The paper also finds that money supply and Indian prices cause inflation in
long run based on an Ordinary Least Square regression model.
2
1.3 Objectives
Based on the research question and issues raised, the paper aims to achieve the
following key objectives:
1.4 Methodology
The research was conducted based on the secondary information collected from
reports of government and international organizations. After the collection of
secondary data and experiences, this paper used descriptive research designs. Various
publication and reports submitted to government of Nepal by national and
international experts and agencies are recorded and collected later.
The study was completed in three chapters. First chapter is introduction and it contain
five subtopics: Background of the study, Statement of the problem, Objectives,
Method of study and structure of the paper. Second chapter is known as Description
and Analysis. It includes theoretical review, empirical review, data presentation,
analysis of data and findings. Third chapter includes conclusion and implications.
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CHAPTER II
DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS
Conceptual review
Chen (2023) stated that poverty refers to the state or condition in which people or
communities lack the financial resources and essentials for a minimum standard of
living. People living in poverty often face challenges in accessing education,
healthcare and opportunities for a better life. It’s a condition that affects one’s overall
well-being and quality of life. Efforts to reduce poverty typically involve improving
income, education and providing social support to those needs.
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Absolute poverty: This refers to the lack of basic necessities required for
survival, such as food, shelter, and clothing.
Relative poverty: Relative poverty is defined in relation to the economic status
of other member of the society. It refers to being poor in comparison to the
standards of living of the rest of the population.
Empirical review
Cardosa (1992) examined the effect of inflation on redistribution and poverty. The
main aim of the study is to provide empirical evidence on the regressive nature of the
inflation tax, the partial indexation of wages, and the social costs of various anti-
inflation policies. By using data and models to estimate the inflation tax and the
impact of inflation on real wages and poverty indices. The study finds that inflation
tax is not a major source of poverty, as the poor have negligible cash holdings.
Inflation reduces real wages, especially for unskilled workers, and widens the income
gap. The study concluded that conservative macroeconomic policies and well-
designed social programs are essential for poverty alleviation.
Shrestha (2012) outlined the volatility in global food prices and its adverse effects on
Nepal, particularly the higher inflation rates driven by food prices. The main objective
of the paper is to analyze the impact of food price hikes on poverty in Nepal,
considering the direct effects on consumption expenditure and potential consequences
for health, education, and agricultural investment. Additionally, it discusses policy
options to curb food inflation and proposes measures to mitigate the impact on the
impoverished population, aiming to contribute to the achievement of Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs). The study finds that a 10-30% rise in food prices in
Nepal may lead to a 4-12% increase in overall poverty and a 6-20% rise in food
poverty. Each 1% increase in food inflation could push 100,000 individuals into
poverty. Policymakers should focus on strategies like tax reduction, boosting food
production, regional food buffers, targeted cash transfers, and promoting second-
generation agricultural cooperatives to address these challenges.
Talukdar (2012) addressed the question of how inflation affects poverty in developing
countries and whether the effect is similar or different across countries with different
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level of income. The main objective is to study the effect of inflation on poverty with
a panel of dataset of 115 developing countries over the period 1981-2008, controlling
for other factors such as income, external debt, educational attainment, and quality of
governance and to analyze the effect of inflation on poverty separately for low
income, lower middle income, and upper middle income countries. The author
adopted a panel data analysis approach, accounting for various fixed and random
effects, and dynamic panel models. The study finds the evidence that Inflation is
positively correlated with poverty in general, while incomes, education attainment,
quality of governance are negatively correlated with poverty in most of the
significance. The relationship between inflation and poverty is negatively and
statistically insignificant for low income countries under certain specification.
Bhattarai (2014) concerned the main research question as finding the optimal level of
inflation for economic growth in Nepal, a developing country with low growth and
high inflation. The main objectives of the study, which are to analyze the impact of
inflation on GDP growth, to examine the feasible threshold level of inflation for GDP
growth, and to state the policy implications based on the empirical results. The main
findings of this study is that it examines whether there is a threshold level of inflation
above which inflation has a negative effect on growth, and if so, what is the optimal
level of inflation for Nepal and reviews the theoretical and empirical literature on the
inflation-growth nexus, and discusses the data and smethodology used for the
analysis.
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Bhattarai (2017) identified rising inflation as a significant challenge for Nepal,
impacting welfare and development. Key economic indicators, such as GDP growth,
exchange rates, and government expenditure, show increasing trends. The study
aimed to determine the causes of inflation, considering factors like Real GDP, money
supply, government spending, exchange rates, total imports, and Indian inflation. The
purpose or objectives of the study is to examine the structure, trend and pattern of
inflation in Nepal over the period 1975-2016 and to explore the major determinants of
inflation in Nepal. The study highlights Nepal's high inflation and emphasizes the lack
of comprehensive research on its trends and determinants. Its findings benefit
policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and the general public by providing insights
into the causes of inflation and the impact of factors like Real GDP, money supply,
government expenditure, exchange rates, total imports, and Indian inflation.
Mandala (2019) examined the rise in prices of goods and services and fall of
purchasing power of people due to inflation. The main objective of the study was to
analyze the casual relationship between inflation and economic growth with their
nature and trend by analyzing the secondary data’s from 1974/75 to 2016/17, the
article concluded that there is a positive and significant impact of real GDP in
inflation in Nepal, implying that higher economic growth leads to higher inflation.
Sharma (2019) stated the problem of poverty exacerbated by inflation arises as rising
price outplaces the slow adjustment of wages, diminishing the purchasing power of
poor. This leads to a decline in real income, making essential commodities
unaffordable for the impoverished, ultimately increasing the impact of inflation on
poverty. The objective of the text is to explore the relationship between inflation and
poverty, examining how inflation impacts the poor, It delves into economic indicators,
define poverty from income and consumption perspectives, and analyze historical
trends and studies to understand the dynamics of inflations effect on poverty.
7
study finds negligible correlation between inflation and economic growth rate in
Nepal, with a correlation coefficient of 0.000154. Similarly, inflation has minimal
impact on unemployment, indicated by a correlation coefficient of 0.000000679.
Policy implications suggest that inflation is not a significant macroeconomic tool for
promoting economic growth or reducing unemployment.
Karki et al. (2020) stated the relationship between inflation and economic growth in
economic literature. The main objectives of the study are to review the literature on
the relationship between inflation and economic growth and to analyze the trend and
correlation of inflation and economic growth in Nepal using secondary data. By
taking references from many available data sources such as Economic survey Reports,
World Bank, relevant journal articles, Reports and books the paper finds
overwhelming support in favor of the specific threshold level of inflation that is
appropriate for growth in Nepal. Several studies on this subject have found the
threshold value of inflation to be around 6 per cent for Nepal. Inflation is harmful to
the economy after certain rate of threshold. It is necessary to control inflation in order
to address poverty as well as economic growth.
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poverty and food poverty in poverty by 4 percentages and
Nepal. food poverty by 6.3 %.
9
economic growth in Nepal. adversely affected by
inflation of the same time,
whereas the current
economic growth is
favorably affected by the
inflation of preceding time.
7 Sharma, Paul (2019) To analyze the trends and Inflation 2005-06 hurt the
patterns of inflation rates for poor more than in 2011-12,
different commodities and as the food prices rose
expenditure groups. substantially in the former
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areas and across different
decile classes.
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Nepal.
12
Table 2: Nepal inflation rate and GDP growth rate from 2008-22
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The inflation rate is the percentage increase in the price of goods and services over a
year. The poverty rate is the percentage of the population living below the poverty
line. The GDP growth rate is the percentage increase in the country's economic output
over a year.
From Table 2, we observe Nepal's economic trends from 2008 to 2022. In the initial
years, the country experienced high inflation rates, peaking at 12.62% in 2009.
However, in subsequent years, inflation rates gradually decreased, with occasional
fluctuations. The GDP growth rate also varied, with notable positive growth in 2014
and 2017. Notably, the year 2020 witnessed a significant economic downturn, marked
by a negative GDP growth rate of -2.37%, likely attributed to global events such as
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Table 3 provides insights into the poverty rate in Nepal. Over the years, there has
been a positive trend in poverty reduction. In 2011, the poverty rate stood at 39.1%,
which decreased to 30.1% in 2014 and further dropped to 17.4% in 2019. This
indicates a substantial improvement in the economic well-being of the population,
aligning with efforts to alleviate poverty in the country.
2.3 Findings
The data analysis reveals the dynamic economic scenario in Nepal, marked by
fluctuation in inflation rates, poverty and GDP growth rate over the past year. The
inflation rate has exhibited variability, reaching its peak at 12.62% in 2009 and hitting
its lowest point at 3.6% in 2021. This fluctuation suggests potential challenges in
price stability within the Nepalese economy.
Similarly, the poverty rate has shown significant variability, with the highest rate
recorded at 39.1% in 2011 and the lowest rate at 17.4% in 2019. The rise in poverty in
2010 might be attributed to the combination of high inflation and other economic
factors affecting the population's purchasing power. However, the subsequent years
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witnessed a gradual reduction in poverty rates, indicating potential improvements in
economic conditions.
Contrastingly, the GDP growth rate has generally been positive, indicating overall
economic expansion. The highest recorded GDP growth rate was 6.66% in 2019,
showcasing a robust economic performance during the period. However, challenges
were evident in 2020, where the GDP growth rate dipped to -2.37%, likely influenced
by the global economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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CHAPTER III
CONCLUSION
3.1 Conclusion
In conclusion, the seminar paper explored the intricate relationship between inflation,
economic growth, and poverty in Nepal. The analysis revealed a dynamic economic
landscape characterized by fluctuations in inflation rates, poverty levels, and GDP
growth over the years. Notably, high inflation in 2009 corresponded with an increase
in poverty, highlighting the potential impact on purchasing power. However,
subsequent years witnessed a gradual reduction in poverty rates, indicating
improvements in economic conditions.
The positive trend in GDP growth rates, particularly the peak of 6.66% in 2019,
reflected overall economic expansion. Nevertheless, the economic downturn in 2020,
marked by a negative GDP growth rate of -2.37%, showcased vulnerabilities, likely
influenced by the global pandemic. Recent data suggests a decrease in inflation to
3.6% in 2021 and a slight increase in the poverty rate to 17.4% in 2019. Despite these
fluctuations, the positive GDP growth rate of 5.84% in 2022 indicates resilience in the
Nepalese economy.
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References
https://www.stlouisfed.org/on-the-economy/2023/oct/inflation-way-out-here-
stay
Karki, S., Banjara, S., & Dumre, A. (2020). A review on impact of inflation on
insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-is-inflation
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MOF. (2021/22).Economic Survey .Kathmandu. Ministry of Finance.
https://www.mof.gov.np/uploads/document/file/1674635120_Economic_Surv
ey_2022.pdf
Nepal Economic Forum. (2022, September 28). Inflation in Nepal – a cause for
concern. https://nepaleconomicforum.org/inflation-in-nepal-a-cause-of-
concern/
Paul, M., & Sharma, P. (2019). Inflation rate and Poverty: Does poor become poorer
Shrestha, M. B., & Chaudhary, S. K. (2012). The impact of food inflation on poverty
University
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