Gender Discrimination and the Biased Indian Labour Market: Evidence from the National Sample Survey

Abstract

Gender gaps in wages are a reflection of inequality and discrimination. This exists across region, sector, type of work and other divisions. Discrimination, is a presence of inequalities between male and female workers with similar skills and in similar occupations. Therefore only understanding wage inequality may be looking at the problem partially. Using the Indian National Sample Survey, the paper examines the facets of gender-based wage inequality and discrimination in regular and casual workers. First, Theil index is calculated to interpret within and between groups inequalities. Then, a Three-fold Oaxaca decomposition method is utilised to divide the wage gaps between explained, unexplained and interaction components. Results show that even though the returns on education are higher for women than men at each level of education, females continue to earn less. Wage gaps largely attributed to unexplained components and more prominent in occupational divisions. Discrimination is greater in regular employment as compared to casual employment; higher in urban as compared to rural areas and gets worse at lower level of occupations. It is also observed that women workers are discriminated against on the basis of age; and gender inequalities are worse than social inequalities.

Am I better off changing my name to “Alexander”? Ethnic discrimination and its effect on wages in the Russian labor market

“…, 2018; Baert, 2018) where the issue of discrimination has been studied substantially. Some studies now exist for countries like India (Agrawal, 2014; Kumar and Hashmi, 2020; Gupta and Kothe, 2021) and Brazil (Lovell, 2000; Castro et al. , 2019; Loureiro et al.…”

“…Using experiments to study discrimination has been extensive in the USA (Bertrand and Mullainathan, 2004;Bertrand et al, 2005;Charles and Guryan, 2008 Pager et al, 2009;Oreopoulos, 2011;Widner and Chicoine, 2011;Nunley et al, 2015;Jacquemet and Yannelis, 2012;Decker et al, 2015) and in Europe (Attstr€ om, 2007;Carlsson and Rooth, 2007;Adida et al, 2010;Carlsson, 2010;Duguet et al, 2010;Vlassis and Drydakis, 2010;McGinnity and Lunn, 2011;Agerstr€ om et al, 2012;Andriessen et al, 2012;Berson, 2012;Carlsson and Rooth, 2012;Derous et al, 2012;Kaas and Manger, 2012;Edo et al, 2013;Piern e, 2013;Blommaert and Coenders, 2014;Bursell, 2014;Midtbøen, 2016;Baert et al, 2015;Baert and Vuji c, 2016;Barto s et al, 2016;Midtbøen, 2014;Thijssen, 2016;Carlsson and Eriksson, 2017;Baert et al, 2017;Carlsson et al, 2018;Baert, 2018) where the issue of discrimination has been studied substantially. Some studies now exist for countries like India (Agrawal, 2014;Kumar and Hashmi, 2020;Gupta and Kothe, 2021) and Brazil (Lovell, 2000;…”