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Trends in global inequality using a new integrated dataset

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  • Carlos Gradín

Abstract

This paper presents preliminary evidence of the annual global income distribution since 1950 using a new integrated dataset that aggregates standardized country income distributions at the percentile level estimated from various sources in the World Income Inequality Database. I analyse the extent to which the main global inequality trends depend on specific distributive views, i.e. absolute or relative, or with more emphasis in specific parts of the distribution. The results show absolute inequality increasing almost continuously.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlos Gradín, 2021. "Trends in global inequality using a new integrated dataset," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-61, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2021-61
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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/Publications/Working-paper/PDF/wp2021-61-trends-global-inequality.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Francisco G. Ferreira & Nora Lustig & Daniel Teles, 2015. "Appraising cross-national income inequality databases: An introduction," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 13(4), pages 497-526, December.
    2. François Bourguignon, 2015. "The Globalization of Inequality," Economics Books, Princeton University Press, edition 1, number 10433.
    3. Deininger, Klaus & Squire, Lyn, 1996. "A New Data Set Measuring Income Inequality," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 10(3), pages 565-591, September.
    4. Satya R. Chakravarty, 2009. "Inequality, Polarization and Poverty," Economic Studies in Inequality, Social Exclusion, and Well-Being, Springer, number 978-0-387-79253-8, Fall.
    5. Sudhir Anand & Paul Segal, 2008. "What Do We Know about Global Income Inequality?," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 46(1), pages 57-94, March.
    6. Atkinson, Anthony B., 1970. "On the measurement of inequality," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 2(3), pages 244-263, September.
    7. Steve Dowrick & Muhammad Akmal, 2005. "Contradictory Trends In Global Income Inequality: A Tale Of Two Biases," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 51(2), pages 201-229, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Juan Gabriel Rodríguez, 2022. "Making the most of world talent for science? The Nobel Prize and Fields Medal experience," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(2), pages 813-847, February.
    2. Dang, Hai-Anh & Dhongde, Shatakshee & Do, Minh N.N. & Nguyen, Cuong Viet & Pimhidzai, Obert, 2023. "Rapid Economic Growth but Rising Poverty Segregation: Will Vietnam Meet the SDGs for Equitable Development?," IZA Discussion Papers 15916, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    Keywords

    Global inequality; Income distribution; WIID; Income inequality;
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