Dualism and its discontents

Employed vs jobless, formal vs informal, urban vs rural-the pandemic has exacerbated the divide, with lasting consequences for the economy

India has been characterised by significant economic dualism and disparities over many years. The fundamental divide between the income, wealth and life chances of the rich minority versus those of the far more numerous poor households is a result of several other dimensions of economic dualism, including: Urban vs rural; formal vs informal; land (and other assets)-owning vs landless; employed vs jobless; well-educated vs ill-educated; and rich vs poor states. Overlaying these largely economic dimensions of disparity are social ones such as high caste vs low caste, majority Hindus vs minority Muslims and males vs females. Economic dualism is obviously