Manikanta R

https://doi.org/10.64823/ijebm.2601006

This study examines the economic contributions generated by household death-related activities in urban India and provides one of the first multi-sector empirical analyses of the country's mortality-driven economy. Despite millions of deaths occurring annually and triggering substantial economic activity across formal and informal sectors, the economic dimensions of mortality remain underexplored in Indian literature. The study utilizes primary survey data collected from 283 vendors across nine sectors in Bengaluru, including funeral services, transport, healthcare, flower markets, hospitality, religious services, textile supply, printing and media, and legal and financial services. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression were employed to examine demand patterns, revenue determinants, and sectoral interdependencies. The findings reveal that the surveyed sectors collectively generate approximately ₹4.40 crore in monthly revenue, demonstrating the significant scale of mortality-linked economic activity. Funeral services recorded the highest average vendor revenue, while transport services generated the largest aggregate sectoral revenue. Regression models showed strong explanatory power, with adjusted R-squared values ranging from 0.87 to 0.98. The study identifies three distinct economic archetypes within the death economy: volume-driven sectors, value-driven sectors, and balanced sectors. The findings contribute to the emerging field of death economics by establishing a sectoral taxonomy, quantifying mortality-related economic circulation, and offering policy recommendations for household financial protection, market formalization, and service-sector development in India.