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

Xavier Fontaine () and Katsunori Yamada ()
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Xavier Fontaine: PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PSE - Paris-Jourdan Sciences Economiques - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sciences Po - Sciences Po
Katsunori Yamada: Kandai University - Kandai University, Osaka University [Osaka]

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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: 2014-12
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published in World Development, 2014, 64, pp.407-419. ⟨10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.06.025⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:spmain:halshs-01030774

DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.06.025

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