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A Converging or Diverging World?

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  • Bob Sutcliffe

Abstract

This paper discusses some of the problems of method and data in measuring world inequality. It describes some recent attempts to do so and produces its own estimates. There is no simple answer to the question of whether or not the world is becoming more unequal. If a variety of methods are employed and compared, a complex answer emerges, showing that inequality is both declining in some ways and increasing in others. However, there has clearly been an enormous, recent increase in the gap between the very rich and the very poor.

Suggested Citation

  • Bob Sutcliffe, 2005. "A Converging or Diverging World?," Working Papers 2, United Nations, Department of Economics and Social Affairs.
    • Handle: RePEc:une:wpaper:2
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    File URL: http://www.un.org/esa/desa/papers/2005/wp2_2005.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Quah, Danny T, 1996. "Twin Peaks: Growth and Convergence in Models of Distribution Dynamics," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 106(437), pages 1045-1055, July.
    2. José Gabriel Palma, 2011. "National Inequality in the Era of Globalisation: What do Recent Data Tell Us?," Chapters, in: Jonathan Michie (ed.), The Handbook of Globalisation, Second Edition, chapter 7, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Xavier Sala-i-Martin, 2002. "The World Distribution of Income (estimated from Individual Country Distributions)," NBER Working Papers 8933, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Danny Quah, 1996. "Twin Peaks: Growth and Convergence in Models of Distribution Dynamics," CEP Discussion Papers dp0280, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    5. Hatton, Timothy J. & Williamson, Jeffrey G., 1998. "The Age of Mass Migration: Causes and Economic Impact," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780195116519, Decembrie.
    6. Quah, Danny, 1996. "Twin peaks : growth and convergence in models of distribution dynamics," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 2278, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Xavier Sala-i-Martin, 2001. "The disturbing 'rise' of global income inequality," Economics Working Papers 616, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, revised Apr 2002.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Oya, Carlos., 2010. "Rural inequality, wage employment and labour market formation in Africa : historical and micro-level evidence," ILO Working Papers 994582213402676, International Labour Organization.
    2. Ryan Higgitt, 2013. "Colonialism, Casteism and Development: South-South Cooperation as a ‘New’ Development Paradigm," Working Papers 112, International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth.
    3. Isabel Ortiz & Matthew Cummins, 2011. "Global Inequality: Beyond the Bottom Billion – A Rapid Review of Income Distribution in 141 Countries," Working papers 1102, UNICEF,Division of Policy and Strategy.
    4. Arthur MacEwan, 2007. "The Meaning of Poverty: Questions of Distribution and Power," Working Papers wp148, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
    5. repec:ilo:ilowps:458221 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Srinivas, Goli, 2014. "Demographic convergence and its linkage with health inequalities in India," MPRA Paper 79823, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 05 Dec 2014.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    world inequality; poverty; wealth; globalization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F - International Economics
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement

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