Caste Comparisons in India: Evidence From Subjective Well-Being Data

Xavier Fontaine () and Katsunori Yamada

World Development, 2014, vol. 64, issue C, 407-419

Abstract: This paper evaluates how caste influences economic comparisons in India. Using happiness data from an original panel survey, we find that both within-caste comparisons and between-caste comparisons reduce well-being. Between-caste comparisons reduce well-being three times more than within-caste comparisons. In absolute terms, an increase in rival caste expenditures affects well-being as much as primary expenditure. These findings highlight the strong influence that comparisons between rival castes have on well-being. Yet this comparison scheme turns out to be asymmetrical: only low-caste individuals are affected by the economic successes of their rivals, whereas only higher-caste individuals compete with their fellows.

Keywords: subjective well-being; economic comparison; relative utility; caste; Asia; India (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (20)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:64:y:2014:i:c:p:407-419

DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.06.025

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