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Income Inequality and Income Mobility in the Scandinavian Countries Compared to the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Aaberge, Rolf

    (Statistics Norway)

  • Björklund, Anders

    (Stockholm University)

  • Jäntti, Markus

    (Åbo Akademi University)

  • Palme, Mårten

    (Department of Economic Statistics)

  • Pedersen, Peder

    (Århus University)

  • Smith, Nina

    (Århus School of Business)

  • Wennemo, Tom

    (Statistics Norway)

Abstract

This paper compares income inequality and income mobility in the Scandinavian countries and the United States during the 1980s. The results demonstrate that inequality is greater in the United states than in the Scandinavian countries and that the ranking of countries with respect to inequality remains unchanged when the accounting period of income is extended from one to 11 years. The pattern of mobility turns out to be remarkably similar despite major differences in labor market and social policies between the Scandinavian countries and the United States.

Suggested Citation

  • Aaberge, Rolf & Björklund, Anders & Jäntti, Markus & Palme, Mårten & Pedersen, Peder & Smith, Nina & Wennemo, Tom, 1996. "Income Inequality and Income Mobility in the Scandinavian Countries Compared to the United States," SSE/EFI Working Paper Series in Economics and Finance 98, Stockholm School of Economics, revised Aug 2002.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:hastef:0098
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Income distribution; earnings mobility;

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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