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Polarization, inequality and growth: The Indian experience

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  • Sripad Motiram

    (Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai)

  • Nayantara Sarma

    (Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai)

Abstract

We analyze polarization in India roughly in the past two and half decades using consumption expenditure data. We show that both bipolarization and multidimensional polarization (on several dimensions: caste, rural-urban, state, region) have increased since the 1990s. In the case of bipolarization, this is a reversal from the earlier trend (in the 1980s). Overall, our results suggest that the high growth that India has been witnessing since the 1990s has been associated with widening disparities. Comparing polarization and inequality, we find similarities, but also some differences. Our results therefore underscore the importance of studying polarization as distinct from traditional inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Sripad Motiram & Nayantara Sarma, 2011. "Polarization, inequality and growth: The Indian experience," Working Papers 225, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    • Handle: RePEc:inq:inqwps:ecineq2011-225
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    Cited by:

    1. Sripad Motiram & Nayantara Sarma, 2014. "Polarization, Inequality, and Growth: The Indian Experience," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(3), pages 297-318, September.
    2. Sripad Motiram, 2018. "Inequality of Opportunity in India: Concepts, Measurement and Empirics," Indian Journal of Human Development, , vol. 12(2), pages 236-247, August.
    3. Anoop S. Kumar & P. Yazir & G. G. Gopika, 2019. "Consumption Inequality In India After Liberalization: A Caste Based Assessment," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 64(01), pages 139-155, March.
    4. Gupta, Prashant & Mallick, Sushanta & Mishra, Tapas, 2018. "Does social identity matter in individual alienation? Household-level evidence in post-reform India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 154-172.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Polarization; Inequality; Growth in India.;
    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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