Business and labor market flexibility in India: The importance of caste

Main author: Saez, Lawrence
Other authors: Mahmood, Zaad
Format: Journal Article           
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id eprints-22126
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
description Since the enactment of economic liberalization in India in the early 1990s, variation in investment climate and labor market reforms across sub-national states has been linked to the increasing relevance of business in policy making. This article argues that the influence of business on policy is conditioned by wider political dynamics. We argue that the reform orientation of states correspond to the position of business classes and caste-based groups within the support base of political parties. We show that caste identification plays an important role on the position of political parties towards business liberalization policies. Thus, we conclude that the relative power of business across the states appears to vary due to the relation between business and government, which in turn is structured by the salience of business castes as an electorally relevant group.
format Journal Article
author Saez, Lawrence
author_facet Saez, Lawrence
Mahmood, Zaad
authorStr Saez, Lawrence
author_letter Saez, Lawrence
author2 Mahmood, Zaad
author2Str Mahmood, Zaad
title Business and labor market flexibility in India: The importance of caste
publisher Cambridge University Press
publishDate 2016
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/22126/