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Sources of inequality in selected MENA countries

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  • Acar, Sevil
  • Dogruel, Fatma

Abstract

The paper deals with income inequality in the selected MENA countries focusing on the dynamics of domestic wage differentiations. The main aim is to identify the sources of inequalities. GDP per capita, share of manufacturing sector, urban share of population, gender participation in the labor force, education and openness may be possible factors. The paper analyzes pay inequalities using a panel regression model where the Theil index is used as the dependent variable. The results show that GDP per capita and female labor force participation have positive (increasing) effects, and openness has a negative (decreasing) effect on pay inequalities in these countries.

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  • Acar, Sevil & Dogruel, Fatma, 2012. "Sources of inequality in selected MENA countries," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 23(3), pages 276-285.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:streco:v:23:y:2012:i:3:p:276-285
    DOI: 10.1016/j.strueco.2012.03.004
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    Cited by:

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    2. Fakih, Ali & Ghazalian, Pascal L., 2019. "Analyzing the Perceptions of Egyptian Youth about the Arab Spring," IZA Discussion Papers 12618, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Maurice CATIN & El Mouhoub MOUHOUD, 2012. "Inégalités Et Pauvreté Dans Les Pays Arabes : Introduction," Region et Developpement, Region et Developpement, LEAD, Universite du Sud - Toulon Var, vol. 35, pages 5-9.
    4. G. C. Lim & Paul D. McNelis, 2014. "Income Inequality, Trade and Financial Openness," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2014n07, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    5. Ramos Carvajal, Carmen & Alvargonzález Rodríguez, Mercedes & Moreno Cuartas, Blanca, 2018. "Determinants of income inequality reduction in the Latin American countries," Revista CEPAL, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), December.
    6. Di Bucchianico, Stefano, 2020. "Discussing Secular Stagnation: A case for freeing good ideas from theoretical constraints?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 288-297.
    7. Facundo Alvaredo & Leonardo Gasparini, 2013. "Recent Trends in Inequality and Poverty in Developing Countries," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0151, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
    8. Lim, G.C. & McNelis, Paul D., 2016. "Income growth and inequality: The threshold effects of trade and financial openness," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 403-412.
    9. Pascal L. Ghazalian, 2022. "The effects of the Arab Spring on female labour force participation in the MENA region," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(4), pages 869-900, October.
    10. Hamid Beladi & Chi‐Chur Chao & Mong Shan Ee & Daniel Hollas, 2020. "Urban development, excessive entry of firms and wage inequality in developing countries," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(1), pages 212-238, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Sources of inequality; Inequality measures; Theil index; Pay inequality; MENA countries; Turkey;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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