Open AccessSocial disadvantage, economic inequality, and life expectancy in nine Indian states
Author(s) -
Sangita Vyas,
Payal Hathi,
Aashish Gupta
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2109226119
Subject(s) - caste , life expectancy , indigenous , inequality , disadvantage , social inequality , demography , sociology , racism , population , demographic economics , geography , socioeconomics , development economics , political science , economics , gender studies , biology , ecology , mathematical analysis , mathematics , law
Significance India is one of the most hierarchical societies in the world. Because vital statistics are incomplete, mortality disparities are not quantified. Using survey data on more than 20 million individuals from nine Indian states representing about half of India’s population, we estimate and decompose life expectancy differences between higher-caste Hindus, comprising other backward classes and high castes, and three marginalized social groups: Adivasis (indigenous peoples), Dalits (oppressed castes), and Muslims. The three marginalized groups experience large disadvantages in life expectancy at birth relative to higher-caste Hindus. Economic status explains less than half of these gaps. These large disparities underscore parallels between diverse systems of discrimination akin to racism. They highlight the global significance of addressing social inequality in India.