Unpacking Caste and Intergenerational Occupational Mobility: A Novel Approach Through Occupational Prestige in West Bengal, India.

This article investigates intergenerational occupational mobility in West Bengal through the lens of occupational prestige, employing statistical methods such as conditional probability matrices, ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, and structural equation modelling (SEM). Using data from the India Human Development Survey II (IHDS-II) and the Standard International Occupational Prestige Scale (SIOPS), the study reveals significant caste-based disparities: the general caste (GC) group exhibits higher rates of upward mobility compared to other backward classes (OBCs) and scheduled castes and tribes (SCs/STs). The research further identifies caste as a moderating factor influencing the impact of a father's occupational status and a son's educational attainment on the son's occupational success, with GC sons more effectively translating education into occupational prestige. Overall, the findings underscore the persistent and multifaceted role of caste in shaping occupational mobility in West Bengal, highlighting the need for targeted policies to address these inequalities.