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Caste differences in behaviour and personality: Evidence from India

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  • Utteeyo Dasgupta
  • Subha Mani
  • Smriti Sharma
  • Saurabh Singhal

Abstract

The persistent gap in economic outcomes between the upper and lower caste groups in India is typically explained through differences in endowments and the presence of discrimination. While there is sizable literature that examines caste gaps in physical and intellectual human capital, this paper contributes to a small literature that evaluates caste differentials in behavioural preferences and personality traits that are possibly associated with the persistent economic gap between these castes.

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  • Utteeyo Dasgupta & Subha Mani & Smriti Sharma & Saurabh Singhal, 2016. "Caste differences in behaviour and personality: Evidence from India," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2016-60, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2016-60
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    Cited by:

    1. Goel, Deepti & Deshpande, Ashwini, 2016. "Identity, Perceptions and Institutions: Caste Differences in Earnings from Self-Employment in India," IZA Discussion Papers 10198, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Thomas Meissner & Xavier Gassmann & Corinne Faure & Joachim Schleich, 2023. "Individual characteristics associated with risk and time preferences: A multi country representative survey," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 66(1), pages 77-107, February.

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