Unequal from the start? Children's life histories and their employment outcomes in India.

Carmichael, Fiona, Darko, Christian K. and Vasilakos, Nicholas ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3279-2885 (2026) Unequal from the start? Children's life histories and their employment outcomes in India. Oxford Development Studies. ISSN 1360-0818 (In Press)

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Abstract

Five waves of the Young Lives Indian survey are analysed using sequence and regression analysis. Four clusters of individuals sharing similar life histories are identified. The life histories reflect aspects of childhood and family circumstances measured by living conditions, health and exposure to family and economic shocks. Regression analysis investigates how different life histories and gender impact employment outcomes at age 22. The results show that accumulation of (dis)advantages over children’s lives helps to explain inequalities in employment and earnings. At age 22, those who have led wealthier, healthier, more stable lives have higher earnings but are less likely to be employed. Those from the poorest but most stable cluster are the most likely to be employed, but among women, this group earns the least. For young men, earnings are lowest for those exposed to the most shocks. Policy to equalise employment opportunities in India should therefore aim to improve the living conditions, health and security of disadvantaged young children.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Data availability statement: The data that support the findings of this study are available in Young Lives at http://doi.org/10.5255/UKDA-SN-7483-2
Uncontrolled Keywords:	early-life poverty,gender wage gap,youth employment,life history trajectories,4* ,/dk/atira/pure/researchoutput/REFrank/4_
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Norwich Business School Faculty of Science > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Centre for Competition Policy Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Responsible Business Regulation Group
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	13 Aug 2026 13:29
Last Modified:	13 Aug 2026 13:29
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/104118
DOI:	issn:1360-0818

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