Citation

Chandra S. Explor. Econ. Hist. 2002; 39(1): 88-112.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1006/exeh.2001.0777

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Movements in wages for subjects of the Netherlands Indies for the period 1908-1917 are analyzed. The analysis reveals a sharp increase in inequality between the ethnic indigenous and Chinese communities between 1910 and 1916, the period of the birth and rise of the anti-Chinese Sarekat Islam movements in Java. It also reveals that this inequality was most severe in a number of residencies of Java, where the movements first took hold. While there is statistical evidence of a link between interracial wage differentials and anti-Chinese violence, there is no link between absolute wages and violence. This evidence suggests that "relative deprivation" is important in understanding ethnic tension.