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Layers of inequality: Unequal opportunities and skin colour in Mexico

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  • Monroy-Gómez-Franco, Luis
  • Vélez-Grajales, Roberto
  • Yalonetzky, Gastón

Abstract

We document the contribution of skin colour toward quantifying inequality of opportunity over a proxy indicator of wealth. Our Ferreira-Gignoux estimates of inequality of opportunity as a share of total wealth inequality show that once parental wealth is included as a circumstance variable, the share of inequality of opportunity rises above 40 per cent, overall and for every age cohort. By contrast, the contribution of skin tone to total inequality of opportunity remains minor throughout.

Suggested Citation

  • Monroy-Gómez-Franco, Luis & Vélez-Grajales, Roberto & Yalonetzky, Gastón, 2021. "Layers of inequality: Unequal opportunities and skin colour in Mexico," MPRA Paper 106605, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:106605
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Inequality of opportunity; wealth index; ethnicity; Mexico.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D30 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - General
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O54 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Latin America; Caribbean

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