An Appraisal of Social Welfare Across Districts of Pakistan: Role of Resource Allocation and Terrorism

Abstract

The objective of the present study is to examine the multidimensional nature of the welfare concept and its measurement. The measurement of welfare has long been a contentious issue in economic literature. The complexity and controversy surrounding this issue have prompted many researchers to seek a unique criterion to examine the level of welfare. However, despite the numerous attempts, a definitive welfare measure remains elusive. Given the importance of welfare in policy design, it is essential to establish a reliable and comprehensive measure of welfare. The measurement of welfare is not limited to economic indicators alone. To capture the constitutive elements of human life and measure wellbeing, additional indicators are required. Therefore, social welfare can only be assessed through a multidimensional approach, which is crucial for analyzing the standard of living and promoting economic development. To measure the level of welfare across the various districts of Pakistan, a variety of indicators must be employed. The average level of per capita income, income distribution, poverty, and human development in a particular region are all important indicators of social welfare. By analyzing the disparities in these indicators among different regions, it is possible to determine the level of social welfare prevalent in each district. The present study aims to examine the level of social welfare among different districts of Pakistan. By analyzing the welfare levels of provinces and districts, the study will provide a comprehensive view of the disparities that exist in social welfare across the country. The study will employ data from the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement (PSLM) to measure the level of welfare in districts and provinces. This data will provide a detailed view of the socioeconomic conditions of selected households in different regions of Pakistan. The study's results indicate that certain districts have a higher level of social welfare than others. The factors contributing to these disparities include the allocation of resources in health, education, transport and communication, agriculture, security, and energy. The resource allocation by the public and private sectors, as well as the demographic conditions across districts, also play a significant role in determining the level of welfare. The study employs a cross-sectional spatial regression analysis to examine the impact of resource allocation on social welfare. The analysis reveals that the allocation of resources in health, education, transport, communication, agriculture, and energy by public and private sectors have a significant positive impact on social welfare from 2008 to 2020. However, the cross-sectional data analysis also reveals that economic resources in education have a significant negative impact on social welfare in the year 2008-09. Overall, the study's findings demonstrate the importance of a multidimensional approach to measuring welfare. The analysis highlights the need for a comprehensive measure of welfare that accounts for economic as well as social indicators. This is crucial for promoting economic development and enhancing the standard of living in different regions of Pakistan.