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Do Disability Inequalities Grow with Development? Evidence from 40 Countries

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Listed:
  • Emily Lewis

    (Department of Economics, Fordham University, Bronx, NY 10458, USA)

  • Sophie Mitra

    (Department of Economics, Fordham University, Bronx, NY 10458, USA)

  • Jaclyn Yap

    (Department of Economics, Fordham University, Bronx, NY 10458, USA)

Abstract

With development, people around the world have become wealthier and live longer. At the same time, development can lead to growing inequalities within and between nations. This paper analyses inequalities related to disability and how they vary across countries by development level. Using internationally comparable data on disability inequalities in 40 countries, we assess disability inequalities through the use of regression analyses with a variety of development measures. Results support the hypothesis only partially: disability inequalities related to education, employment, and multidimensional poverty are found to be significantly larger in countries at higher levels of development. However, this is not the case for rates of access to water, sanitation, clean fuel, electricity, housing, and assets. These results, overall, hold when using different development and outcome indicators, and when focusing on specific subgroups of the population. The potential implications of these findings are discussed. Further research is needed to understand, for education and employment, the factors and processes that contribute to larger disability inequalities in countries at higher levels of development and what strategies might be pursued to reduce them.

Suggested Citation

  • Emily Lewis & Sophie Mitra & Jaclyn Yap, 2022. "Do Disability Inequalities Grow with Development? Evidence from 40 Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:9:p:5110-:d:800701
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sen, Amartya, 2001. "Development as Freedom," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780192893307.
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    3. Mizunoya, Suguru & Mitra, Sophie, 2013. "Is There a Disability Gap in Employment Rates in Developing Countries?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 28-43.
    4. Lena Morgon Banks & Hannah Kuper & Sarah Polack, 2017. "Poverty and disability in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(12), pages 1-19, December.
    5. David M. Cutler & Adriana Lleras-Muney, 2010. "The Education Gradient in Old Age Disability," NBER Chapters, in: Research Findings in the Economics of Aging, pages 101-120, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Mitra, Sophie & Posarac, Aleksandra & Vick, Brandon, 2013. "Disability and Poverty in Developing Countries: A Multidimensional Study," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 1-18.
    7. David A. Wise, 2010. "Research Findings in the Economics of Aging," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number wise08-1.
    8. Yeo, Rebecca & Moore, Karen, 2003. "Including Disabled People in Poverty Reduction Work: "Nothing About Us, Without Us"," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 571-590, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhang , Huafeng & Holden, Stein T., 2023. "Country Socio-economic Development and Disparity in School Children's Reading Skills Learning in Africa," CLTS Working Papers 8/23, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Centre for Land Tenure Studies.

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