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Does returns to farming depend on Caste? New evidence from India

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  • Singh, Ashish

Abstract

This paper analyses the relationship between net farm income per unit of land cultivated and caste divisions in India using a micro unit recorded and nationally representative survey conducted in 2004-05. Findings suggest that the groups that are generally considered disadvantaged (Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes) have, after controlling for other factors, substantially lower farm returns compared to the advantaged (Others) castes, whereas the ‘Other Backward Castes’ occupy position in between. Decomposition of overall net farm income inequality using mean-log deviation indicates that caste based inequality forms a substantial part of it. Results call for policies for neutralizing the impact of caste on agricultural returns in addition to the general policy of land redistribution.

Suggested Citation

  • Singh, Ashish, 2010. "Does returns to farming depend on Caste? New evidence from India," MPRA Paper 26526, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:26526
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    Cited by:

    1. Sarthak Gaurav & Srijit Mishra, 2011. "Size-class and returns to cultivation in India: A Cold case reopened," Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai Working Papers 2011-027, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai, India.
    2. Plamen Nikolov & Hongjian Wang & Kevin Acker, 2020. "Wage premium of Communist Party membership: Evidence from China," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(3), pages 309-338, August.
    3. Paola A. Barrientos Q. & Niels-Hugo Blunch & Nabanita Datta Gupta, 2015. "Income Convergence and the Flow out of Poverty in India, 1994-2005," Economics Working Papers 2015-09, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University.
    4. Anupam Sarkar, 2020. "Role of Livestock Farming in Meeting Livelihood Challenges of SC Cultivators in India," Indian Journal of Human Development, , vol. 14(1), pages 23-41, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Caste; returns to farming; farm income inequality; Caste based inequality; India;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement

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