Income Inequality in Rural India: Decomposing the Gini by Income Sources

Abstract

This paper examines income inequality in rural India in 1993 and 2005. It attempts to ascertain the contribution of different income sources to overall income inequality, and change in their relative importance between 1993 and 2005 through a decomposition of Gini coefficient. The paper finds that income inequality has increased between 1993 and 2005. Agriculture income continues to contribute majorly in total income and income inequality; however its share in total income and total income inequality has declined significantly. A marginal increase in agriculture and salaried income leads to increase in inequality; however, a marginal increase in labor income (both agriculture and non-agriculture) lead to reduction in the income inequality.