Exploring the effects of disparities on subjective well-being in India

India is home to the second-largest population in the world and records low levels of reported subjective well-being. It has socio-economic, socio-cultural and spatial disparities. This research project studies the variations in reported subjective well-being based on subjective social class, caste identity and the urban-rural gap. The project uses data from the World Values Survey and the Survey on Preference and Satisfaction with Life. While investigating the effect of subjective social class, urban-rural gap and caste on subjective well-being, it also explores the possibility of the indirect effect of caste through mediation. The analysis uses ordinary least squares regressions to examine direct and indirect effects. I find that subjective social class and urban-rural residence are essential predictors of subjective well-being. Individuals who identify themselves as lower-class or middle-class report lower subjective well-being as compared to upper-class individuals. Individuals living in middle-sized cities report the highest subjective well-being followed by those living in the biggest cities in India, while others report lower subjective well-being. While caste identity does not have a direct effect on subjective well-being, income, health status, employment status, and education mediate an indirect effect of caste on subjective well-being. The results indicate that the socio-economic, socio-cultural and spatial disparities in India affect the reported subjective well-being of Indians.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical reference