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Does Affirmative Action Affect Productivity In The Indian Railways?

Author

Listed:
  • Ashwini Deshpande

    (Department of Economics, Delhi School of Economics, Delhi, India)

  • Thomas E. Weisskopf

    (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor)

Abstract
Our objective in this paper is to shed some empirical light on a claim often made by critics of affirmative action policies: that increasing the representation of members of marginalized communities in jobs – and especially in relatively skilled positions – comes at a cost of reduced efficiency. We undertake a systematic empirical analysis of productivity in the Indian Railways in order to determine whether increasing proportions of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in railway employment – largely a consequence of India's affirmative action policies – have actually reduced productive efficiency in the railway system. We find no evidence that higher percentages of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the railway labour force have reduced productivity. Indeed, some of our results suggest that the opposite is true, providing tentative support for the claim that greater labour force diversity boosts productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Ashwini Deshpande & Thomas E. Weisskopf, 2010. "Does Affirmative Action Affect Productivity In The Indian Railways?," Working papers 185, Centre for Development Economics, Delhi School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:cde:cdewps:185
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    7. Alivelu, G., 2008. "Analysis of Productivity Trends on Indian Railways," Journal of the Transportation Research Forum, Transportation Research Forum, vol. 47(1).
    8. Baltagi, Badi H. & Li, Qi, 1991. "A joint test for serial correlation and random individual effects," Statistics & Probability Letters, Elsevier, vol. 11(3), pages 277-280, March.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Elaine McCrate, 2013. "Screening for honesty and motivation in the workplace: what can affirmative action do?," Chapters, in: Jeannette Wicks-Lim & Robert Pollin (ed.), Capitalism on Trial, chapter 15, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    2. Borooah, Vani, 2019. "Discrimination and Jobs Reservation in India," MPRA Paper 101671, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    affirmative action; labour force; productivity; Indian railways;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J - Labor and Demographic Economics
    • L - Industrial Organization

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