Wage Inequality and Untouchables

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter examined various aspects of wage inequality across caste groups for regular salaried and casual workers for the years 2004–05 and 2017–18. The chapter includes inequality in average wage rate between the scheduled castes and higher castes by educational level, industry, regional, and occupation groups. The chapter estimates within and between group inequalities in wage earnings using generalized entropy measure, Theil Index, and relative contribution of factors to wage inequality through Gary Fields’ decomposition method. The chapter also estimates the wage gap between the scheduled castes and higher castes in public and private sectors for formal and informal workers.