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The distribution of well-being among Europeans

Author

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  • Andrea Brandolini

    (Bank of Italy, DG Economics, Statistics and Research)

  • Alfonso Rosolia

    (Bank of Italy, DG Economics, Statistics and Research)

Abstract

We analyse the evolution of EU citizens’ living standards, considering the EU as a single country. Average living standards have improved considerably as the European integration process has unfolded. EU28 income inequality has steadily declined, mostly as a result of the macroeconomic convergence of new EU-accession countries. EU15 income inequality fell steadily until the mid-1980s, but picked up again during the economic turmoil following the Great Recession, largely reflecting the divergence between periphery and core countries in the euro area. Using a common EU standard reveals more progress in terms of poverty reduction. It also shows that the patterns of income convergence across member states differ across categories of residents, thus calling for a more careful consideration of the personal and national dimensions of EU policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrea Brandolini & Alfonso Rosolia, 2019. "The distribution of well-being among Europeans," Working Papers 496, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    • Handle: RePEc:inq:inqwps:ecineq2019-496
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    Cited by:

    1. Francesco Vercelli, 2019. "The evolution of inequality and social cohesion in Europe: 1957-2017," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 526, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    2. Chiara Mussida & Dario Sciulli, 2022. "The dynamics of poverty in Europe: what has changed after the great recession?," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 20(4), pages 915-937, December.
    3. Giovanni D'Alessio, 2020. "A comparative evaluation of poverty measures in the Italian Survey of Household Income and Wealth," Politica economica, Società editrice il Mulino, issue 1, pages 101-140.
    4. Goedemé, Tim & Decerf, Benoit & Van den Bosch, Karel, 2020. "A new poverty indicator for Europe: the extended headcount ratio," INET Oxford Working Papers 2020-26, Institute for New Economic Thinking at the Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford.
    5. Stefano Filauro & Flaviana Palmisano & Vito Peragine, 2023. "The Evolution of Inequality of Opportunity in Europe," Working Papers 644, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    6. Decerf,Benoit Marie A, 2022. "Absolute and Relative Poverty Measurement : A Survey," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10008, The World Bank.
    7. Smaranda Pantea, 2022. "Self-employment in the EU: quality work, precarious work or both?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 403-418, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    European Union; Euro Area; European integration; income inequality; welfare analysis.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • E01 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General - - - Measurement and Data on National Income and Product Accounts and Wealth; Environmental Accounts
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty

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