Abstract |
In this article, the monthly earnings gap between Dalit and non-Dalit caste members in Nepal is estimated using two methods: Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition method and the matching-based nonparametric decomposition method. The nonparametric decomposition method estimates the monthly earnings gap based on a one-to-many matching of the given income-generating characteristics, taking into account the differences in the support of the distribution of those characteristics for Dalits and non-Dalits. According to the results, the majority of the earnings gap between Dalits and non-Dalits is attributed to the endowment effect. Dalits earn less than non-Dalits because Dalits have some characteristics that non-Dalits do not, that are unfavorable in the labor market. That this endowment effect works against Dalits could be a reflection of the social exclusion and job segregation faced by Dalits in the past. |