Caste, class, race, and inequality: insights for economic policy

Abstract

Disparities across social identity groups (such as race, caste, and ethnicity) are a global phenomenon, where significant differences in wealth and other socioeconomic outcomes are observed. Although the contexts and historical roots of these differences vary by country, there are common factors—particularly arising at the intersection of social identity and social class—that help explain the persistence of these inequalities. This issue of the Oxford Review of Economic Policy examines various dimensions of inequality tied to intergroup disparities and social hierarchy, drawing insights from policy responses across different contexts, countries, and regions. The article introduces stratification economics as a framework to understand these shared global patterns. It further reviews the papers published in the issue that explore topics such as social mobility, labour market discrimination, social exclusion, the role of artificial intelligence, the challenges associated with the interpretation and application of the law, the importance of data collection, and the role of existing and potential policy interventions (e.g. affirmative action and reparations) to address these persistent inequalities.