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Growth, structural change and wages in India: recent trends

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  • Himanshu

    (Jawaharlal Nehru University)

Abstract

This paper attempts to analyse the trend in growth rate of wages in the last two decades. The broad trend in wages and the wage structure are examined in the context of changing structure of employment and output in the economy over time using different data sources. The rapid acceleration during 2008–2013 and subsequent collapse of wages has raised questions on the earlier consensus on drivers of change in agricultural wages. The emergence of non-farm sector and the declining importance of agriculture is examined along with the new patterns of rural-urban interlinkages, public expenditure led employment creation such as MGNREGA and wage-inflation spiral.

Suggested Citation

  • Himanshu, 2017. "Growth, structural change and wages in India: recent trends," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 60(3), pages 309-331, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ijlaec:v:60:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s41027-018-0114-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s41027-018-0114-7
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    Cited by:

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    3. S. Mahendra Dev, 2018. "Inequality, employment and public policy," Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai Working Papers 2018-003, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai, India.
    4. Franziska Braschke & Patrick A. Puhani, 2023. "Population Adjustment to Asymmetric Labour Market Shocks in India: A Comparison to Europe and the United States at Two Different Regional Levels," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 66(1), pages 7-35, March.
    5. Veronica Pala & Aibanskhem Nongspung, 2022. "Trends in wages of regular wage employees and casual workers in Indian states," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 65(3), pages 667-687, September.
    6. Aibanskhem Nongspung & Veronica Pala, 2025. "Self-Selection and Private Returns to Education in India: Evidence from NSSO Data," Journal of Quantitative Economics, Springer;The Indian Econometric Society (TIES), vol. 23(1), pages 253-283, March.
    7. S. Sundari, 2020. "Structural Changes and Quality of Women’s Labour in India," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 63(3), pages 689-717, September.
    8. S. Mahendra Dev, 2018. "Labour Market Inequalities in India: Dimensions and Policies," Indian Journal of Human Development, , vol. 12(2), pages 217-235, August.
    9. S. Mahendra Dev, 2018. "Inequality, Employment and Public Policy," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 61(1), pages 1-42, March.

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