IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jecomi/v9y2021i4p166-d671343.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Does Income Inequality Create Excessive Threats to the Sustainable Development of Russia? Evidence from Intercountry Comparisons via Analysis of Inequality Heatmaps

Author

Listed:
  • Mikhail Lvovitch Dorofeev

    (Public Finance Department, Financial Faculty, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, 49 Leningradsky Prospekt, 125993 Moscow, Russia)

Abstract

The paper explored the problem of income inequality in Russia in the context of the sustainable development of Russia. The research starts from the historical analysis of income inequality dynamics in Russia. Then, we discussed the problem of the inconsistency of data, comparing different sources (official data from the Rosstat database and alternative data from the World inequality database). The purpose of this research was to assess Russian specifics of income inequality and answer the question of if the income inequality in Russia is excessively high and needs extra government regulation in order to reach the trajectory of advanced sustainable development. To this end, we made intercountry comparisons and used the method of building income inequality heatmaps basing on a dataset from the World Inequality Database. Our sample includes the per-adult equivalent of household market income distribution in 27 developed and developing countries and world regions. The result of the research was that there are many countries in the world wherein the differentiation of income exceeds Russia’s. Russian income inequality is lower than the world average, but the structure of the Russian household income distribution stands out by an extreme concentration of national income in the hands of the top 1%. We supported our results via the independent data from the Credit Suisse wealth inequality report, connecting a record level of wealth inequality in Russia with its problem of top 1% income inequality. It is recommended to gradually increase marginal tax rates on the income and wealth of the top 1% and continue developing an effective progressive tax system in Russia.

Suggested Citation

  • Mikhail Lvovitch Dorofeev, 2021. "Does Income Inequality Create Excessive Threats to the Sustainable Development of Russia? Evidence from Intercountry Comparisons via Analysis of Inequality Heatmaps," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jecomi:v:9:y:2021:i:4:p:166-:d:671343
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/9/4/166/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/9/4/166/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sarah Voitchovsky, 2005. "Does the Profile of Income Inequality Matter for Economic Growth?," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 10(3), pages 273-296, September.
    2. Daniel Halter & Manuel Oechslin & Josef Zweimüller, 2014. "Inequality and growth: the neglected time dimension," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 81-104, March.
    3. Daniel Detzer, 2016. "Financialisation, Debt and Inequality – scenarios based on a stock flow consistent model," Working papers wpaper151, Financialisation, Economy, Society & Sustainable Development (FESSUD) Project.
    4. Oechslin, Manuel & Halter, David, 2010. "Inequality and Growth: The Neglected Time Dimension," CEPR Discussion Papers 8033, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Natalia Morozko & Nina Morozko & Valentina Didenko, 2020. "The Use of Real Options in Assessing the Development of Small Energy in Russia," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 10(4), pages 205-211.
    6. Persson, Torsten & Tabellini, Guido, 1994. "Is Inequality Harmful for Growth?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 84(3), pages 600-621, June.
    7. Laurent Simula & Alain Trannoy, 2022. "Gini and Optimal Income Taxation by Rank," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 14(3), pages 352-379, August.
    8. Stephen Kinsella & Matthias Greiff & Edward J Nell, 2011. "Income Distribution in a Stock-Flow Consistent Model with Education and Technological Change," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 37(1), pages 134-149.
    9. Nina Morozko & Natalia Morozko & Valentina Didenko, 2021. "Energy Prices and Households Incomes Growth Proportions in Russia s Case Context," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 11(3), pages 243-250.
    10. Pasquale Tridico & Walter Paternesi Meloni, 2018. "Economic growth, welfare models and inequality in the context of globalisation," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 29(1), pages 118-139, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ademola Obafemi Young, 2019. "Growth Impacts of Income Inequality: Empirical Evidence From Nigeria," Research in World Economy, Research in World Economy, Sciedu Press, vol. 10(3), pages 226-262, December.
    2. Dawid, H. & Harting, P. & Neugart, M., 2018. "Cohesion policy and inequality dynamics: Insights from a heterogeneous agents macroeconomic model," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 220-255.
    3. Brida, Juan Gabriel & Carrera, Edgar J. Sanchez & Segarra, Verónica, 2020. "Clustering and regime dynamics for economic growth and income inequality," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 99-108.
    4. Reto Foellmi & Josef Zweimüller, 2017. "Is inequality harmful for innovation and growth? Price versus market size effects," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 359-378, April.
    5. Matías Braun & Francisco Parro & Patricio Valenzuela, 2017. "Inequality, Finance, and Growth," Documentos de Trabajo 329, Centro de Economía Aplicada, Universidad de Chile.
    6. Florian Dorn, 2016. "On Data and Trends in Income Inequality around the World," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 14(04), pages 54-64, December.
    7. Jakub Bartak & Łukasz Jabłoński, 2020. "Inequality and growth: What comes from the different inequality measures?," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 72(2), pages 185-212, April.
    8. Weijie Luo, 2022. "Inequality and growth in the twenty‐first century," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 69(4), pages 345-366, September.
    9. Gründler, Klaus & Krieger, Tommy, 2016. "Democracy and growth: Evidence from a machine learning indicator," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 45(S), pages 85-107.
    10. José Carlos Coelho & José Alves, 2021. "How inequality drives growth: an investigation of the transmission channels for OECD countries," Working Papers REM 2021/0194, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, REM, Universidade de Lisboa.
    11. Veselov, D. & Yarkin, A., 2016. "Wealth Distribution and Political Conflict in the Model of Transition from Stagnation to Growth," Journal of the New Economic Association, New Economic Association, vol. 32(4), pages 30-60.
    12. Kazakova, M.V. (Казакова, М.В.) & Kiblitskaya, T.R. (Киблицкая, Т.Р.) & Lyubimov, I.L. (Любимов, И.Л.) & Nesterova, K.V. (Нестерова, К.В.), 2016. "Inequality and Economic Growth: An Empirical Evaluation of Foreign Countries and Russia [Неравенство И Экономический Рост: Эмпирические Оценки Для Зарубежных Стран И России]," Working Papers 2043, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration.
    13. Ms. Valerie Cerra & Mr. Ruy Lama & Norman Loayza, 2021. "Links Between Growth, Inequality, and Poverty: A Survey," IMF Working Papers 2021/068, International Monetary Fund.
    14. repec:ces:ifodic:v:14:y:2016:i:4:p:19267790 is not listed on IDEAS
    15. Ulrich Schetter & Adrian Jäggi & Maik T. Schneider, 2021. "Inequality, Openness, and Growth through Creative Destruction," CID Working Papers 130a, Center for International Development at Harvard University.
    16. Lubimov, I.L. (Любимов, И.Л.), 2016. "Inequality and Growth: Theoretical Aspects of Dependence [Неравенство И Экономический Рост: Теоретические Аспекты Зависимости]," Working Papers 2042, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration.
    17. Gründler, Klaus & Scheuermeyer, Philipp, 2015. "Income inequality, economic growth, and the effect of redistribution," W.E.P. - Würzburg Economic Papers 95, University of Würzburg, Department of Economics.
    18. Florian Dorn, 2016. "On Data and Trends in Income Inequality around the World," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 14(4), pages 54-64, December.
    19. Blotevogel, Robert & Imamoglu, Eslem & Moriyama, Kenji & Sarr, Babacar, 2022. "Income inequality measures and economic growth channels," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    20. Neves, Pedro Cunha & Afonso, Óscar & Silva, Sandra Tavares, 2016. "A Meta-Analytic Reassessment of the Effects of Inequality on Growth," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 386-400.
    21. Matías Braun & Francisco Parro & Patricio Valenzuela, 2019. "Does Finance Alter The Relation Between Inequality And Growth?," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 57(1), pages 410-428, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jecomi:v:9:y:2021:i:4:p:166-:d:671343. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.