Social Entrepreneurship in Nepal. A Study of Representation through the Lens of Stratification Economics

Abstract

Nepal’s population is a mosaic of 125 castes and ethnic groups, disproportionally represented in different spheres of public life. Two of them, Brahmins and Chhetris, are predominant in all sectors. Social entrepreneurship in Nepal remains under-explored by the scientific community. This paper addresses this gap by analysing the caste identity of Nepal’s leading social entrepreneurs. The critical question it addresses is: does the field that tackles social problems reflect this social stratification? To address this question, I combine quantitative and qualitative approaches and draw on the theory of social identity, in-depth interviews, expert interviews, desk research, and surveys. Conducted on a group of 51 social entrepreneurs, this study revealed that 53% of them are Brahmins/Chhetris while 47% are of other ethnic backgrounds. This suggests that the studied field is over-represented by Brahmins and Chhetris and that participation of various ethnic groups in it is not proportional.