Feeding the Divide: Do Nutritional Disparities Drive the Gender Wage Gap in South Asia?

Abstract Nutritional inequality across genders plays a significant role in shaping wage disparities. Existing literature on health disparities highlights a strong link between societal inequality and poor health outcomes. However, recent research suggests that access to economic opportunities is a key driver of a nation’s overall health conditions. This chapter explores the impact of gender-based nutritional disparities on income inequality, using the BMI gap between men and women as an indicator. The study estimates this impact while accounting for differences in income per capita, employing a panel data model with data from 1990 to 2021 for six South Asian countries – India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The findings underscore the need to address nutritional disparities to reduce income inequality in South Asia. Furthermore, gender inequality, unemployment rates and educational attainment are identified as critical factors influencing wage disparities. From a policy perspective, the study highlights that mitigating nutritional inequality can help narrow the income gap and encourage female labour force participation. Although progress has been made in balancing efficiency and equity in opportunities, continued efforts to address nutritional inequality remain essential.