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How close does the apple fall to the tree? Some evidence on intergenerational occupational mobility from India

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  • Sripad Motiram

    (Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research)

  • Ashish Singh

    (Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research)

Abstract

Using data from the India Human Development Survey (IHDS) 2005, we examine intergenerational occupational mobility in India, an issue on which very few systematic and rigorous studies exist. We group individuals into classes and document patterns of mobility at the rural, urban and all-India levels, and for different caste groups. We find substantial intergenerational persistence, particularly in the case of low-skilled and low-paying occupations, e.g. almost half the children of agricultural labourers end up becoming agricultural labourers. We also document difference across caste groups. Overall, our results suggest considerable inequality of opportunity in India

Suggested Citation

  • Sripad Motiram & Ashish Singh, 2012. "How close does the apple fall to the tree? Some evidence on intergenerational occupational mobility from India," Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai Working Papers 2012-017, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai, India.
    • Handle: RePEc:ind:igiwpp:2012-017
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    File URL: http://www.igidr.ac.in/pdf/publication/WP-2012-017.pdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Intergenerational Mobility; Inequality of Opportunity; Distributive Justice; Social Class;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement

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