Title: Women in the IT sector: Is there an English language premium?

Authors: B.P. Chandramohan; Shailendra N. Gajanan; B. Muthulakshmi

Addresses: Department of Economics, Presidency College, Chennai 600 005, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Department of Management, University of Pittsburgh, 300 Campus Drive, Bradford, PA 16701, USA. ' Department of Economics, Presidency College, Chennai 600 005, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract: Consistent with Human Capital Theory we show that observed earnings differentials are higher, based on the type of education. We track women employees in the Information Technology (IT) sector in Chennai, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, and, estimate the source of earnings differential, and demonstrate the existence of an English language premium. That is, additional schooling generates higher returns, especially if the medium of instruction is in English. These findings have relevance for enrolment rates, poverty and women empowerment.

Keywords: wage differentials; language premiums; castes; schooling choices; education; women employees; gender; English language; ICT; information technology; communications technology; human capital theory; earnings differentials; Chennai; Tamil Nadu; India; additional schooling; teaching methods; enrolment rates; poverty; female empowerment; economic policies; emerging economies; international development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEPEE.2011.043311

International Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies, 2011 Vol.4 No.4, pp.378 - 389

Published online: 11 Jan 2015 *

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