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Crossing boundaries: How social hierarchy impedes economic mobility

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  • Jacoby, Hanan G.
  • Mansuri, Ghazala

Abstract

How important are social hierarchies in explaining durable economic inequality? Using novel data from rural Pakistan on the caste composition of village hamlets and the location of primary schools, we investigate the impact of caste-based hierarchies on human capital accumulation, a key determinant of socio-economic mobility. We find that social stigma greatly discourages school enrollment among low-caste children, with low-caste girls, the most educationally disadvantaged group, being the worst affected. Our results imply that a policy of prioritizing school availability in settlements dominated by low-caste households would be a cost-effective way of increasing overall school enrollment.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacoby, Hanan G. & Mansuri, Ghazala, 2015. "Crossing boundaries: How social hierarchy impedes economic mobility," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 135-154.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:117:y:2015:i:c:p:135-154
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2015.05.003
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    4. Francisco Meneses, 2021. "Intergenerational Mobility After Expanding Educational Opportunities: A Quasi Experiment," Working Papers 586, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    5. Xavier Giné & Ghazala Mansuri, 2018. "Together We Will: Experimental Evidence on Female Voting Behavior in Pakistan," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 10(1), pages 207-235, January.
    6. Borker,Girija, 2021. "Safety First : Perceived Risk of Street Harassment and Educational Choices of Women," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9731, The World Bank.
    7. Gueye, Ababacar S. & Audibert, Martine & Delaunay, Valérie, 2018. "Can social groups impact schooling decisions? Evidence from castes in rural Senegal," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 307-323.
    8. Ambar Narayan & Roy Van der Weide & Alexandru Cojocaru & Christoph Lakner & Silvia Redaelli & Daniel Gerszon Mahler & Rakesh Gupta N. Ramasubbaiah & Stefan Thewissen, 2018. "Fair Progress?," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 28428.
    9. Field, Erica & Vyborny, Kate, 2022. "Women’s Mobility and Labor Supply: Experimental Evidence from Pakistan," ADB Economics Working Paper Series 655, Asian Development Bank.

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