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The labor share and income inequality: some empirical evidence for the period 1990-2015

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  • Iñaki Erauskin

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to analyze empirically the relationship between the labor share and income inequality, as measured by the Gini coefficient and by the income shares for different quintiles, during the period 1990–2015 for 62 developed and developing countries. Design/methodology/approach - This study uses panel data techniques to analyze empirically the relationship between the labor share and income inequality. Findings - This paper finds that a lower labor share is associated with a higher Gini coefficient. A lower labor share is found to be strongly associated with a smaller income share for the lowest two quintiles and larger income share for the highest quintile and weakly associated with a smaller income share for the third and fourth quintiles. Moreover, this paper finds that the lower the quintile, the stronger the impact of the labor share on the income share of the quintile. Social implications - Policymakers should take into account the evolution of the labor share. Public policies that improve labor market outcomes, such as those aimed to promote participation in the labor market and strengthen the human capital of low-income groups, seem necessary to prevent the rise in economic inequalities. Moreover, as the digital transformation of society progresses, policies to promote skill deepening may have an important role in reversing excessive inequalities. Originality/value - How changes in the labor share are associated with changes in the Gini coefficient, and how this is driven by income shares for different quintiles, for a broad range of countries during the most recent period, has not been comprehensively studied using panel data techniques.

Suggested Citation

  • Iñaki Erauskin, 2020. "The labor share and income inequality: some empirical evidence for the period 1990-2015," Applied Economic Analysis, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 28(84), pages 173-195, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:aeapps:aea-04-2020-0028
    DOI: 10.1108/AEA-04-2020-0028
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Bom, Pedro R.D. & Erauskin, Iñaki, 2022. "Productive government investment and the labor share," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 347-363.
    2. Raihan, Selim, 2022. "What Does Data on Functional Income Distribution tell us about Trends in and Correlates of Income Inequality in The Asia-Pacific?," Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, vol. 56(3), pages 45-64.
    3. Roya Taherifar & Mark J. Holmes & Gazi M. Hassan, 2023. "The drivers of labour share and impact on pay inequality: A firm-level investigation," Working Papers in Economics 23/03, University of Waikato.
    4. Emin Efecan Aktaş, 2023. "How Tax Wedge of Low and Upper-income Households Affects Income Distribution: Findings from OECD Countries," Prague Economic Papers, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2023(3), pages 246-272.
    5. Anita Szymańska & Małgorzata Zielenkiewicz, 2022. "Declining Labour Income Share and Personal Income Inequality in Advanced Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-14, August.
    6. Raihan, Selim, 2021. "Functional Income Distribution and Inequality in the Asia-Pacific Countries," MPRA Paper 110469, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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