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A Gender-Based Theory of the Origin of the Caste System of India

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  • Chris Bidner
  • Mukesh Eswaran

Abstract

This paper proposes a theory of the origins of India’s caste system by explicitly recognizing the productivity of women in complementing their husbands’ skills. Its interesting to know the emergence of caste system its hereditary nature, its insistence on endogamy (marriage only within castes), and its hierarchical character. [BREAD Working Paper No. 367]. URL:[http://ipl.econ.duke.edu/bread/papers/working/367.pdf].

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  • Chris Bidner & Mukesh Eswaran, 2013. "A Gender-Based Theory of the Origin of the Caste System of India," Working Papers id:5206, eSocialSciences.
    • Handle: RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:5206
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    6. Gupta, I. & Veettil, P.C. & Speelman, S., 2018. "Caste, Technology and Social Networks," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 277048, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    7. Munshi, K., 2017. "Caste and the Indian Economy," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 1759, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
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