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In Search for a Smoking Gun: What Makes Income Inequality Vary Over Time in Different Countries?

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  • Mats Johansson
  • Bjorn Gustafsson

Abstract

Forces affecting the development of the distribution of income in OECD-countries are investigated by analyzing an unbalanced panel with information covering 16 countries from 1966 to 1994. Income inequality is measured with the Gini-coefficient of equivalent disposable income. The results suggest that many factors affect the development of inequality. Factors are strictly economic or outside a strictly defined market-sphere as well as being demographic. However, a relation between the unemployment rate and inequality could not be found.

Suggested Citation

  • Mats Johansson & Bjorn Gustafsson, 1997. "In Search for a Smoking Gun: What Makes Income Inequality Vary Over Time in Different Countries?," LIS Working papers 172, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    • Handle: RePEc:lis:liswps:172
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    2. Koen Caminada & Kees Goudswaard, 2001. "International Trends in Income Inequality and Social Policy," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 8(4), pages 395-415, August.
    3. Koen Caminada & Chen Wang, 2011. "Disentangling Income Inequality and the Redistributive Effect of Social Transfers and Taxes in 36 LIS Countries," LIS Working papers 567, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    4. Timothy M. Smeeding, 2002. "Globalization, Inequality, and the Rich Countries of the G-20: Evidence from the Luxembourg Income Study (LIS)," Center for Policy Research Working Papers 48, Center for Policy Research, Maxwell School, Syracuse University.
    5. Sebastiano Fadda, 2015. "What to do about income inequality," Argomenti, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Department of Economics, Society & Politics, vol. 1(1), pages 1-19, May-Augus.
    6. Sharimakin A. & Oseni M.S. & Adegboye A.C., 2015. "Education, labour productivity and income inequality in Nigeria," Annals of the University of Petrosani, Economics, University of Petrosani, Romania, vol. 15(1), pages 295-306.
    7. Koen Caminada & Kees Goudswaard, 2005. "Are Public and Private Social Expenditures Complementary?," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 11(2), pages 175-189, May.
    8. Anneli Kaasa, 2003. "Factors Influencing Income Inequality In Transition Economies," University of Tartu - Faculty of Economics and Business Administration Working Paper Series 18, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Tartu (Estonia).
    9. Timothy Smeeding, 2002. "Globalization, Inequality and the Rich Countries of the G-20: Evidence from the Luxembourg Income Study," LIS Working papers 320, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    10. N. Gobbin & G. Rayp, 2004. "Income Inequality Data in Growth Empirics: From Cross-Sections to Time Series," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 04/252, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    11. Andrzej Grodner & Timothy Smeeding, 2000. "Changing Income Inequality in OECD Countries: Updated Results from the Luxembourg Income Study (LIS)," LIS Working papers 252, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    12. Mihai TALMACIU, 2015. "The Influence Of Cultural Variables On Sustainable Development. An Analysis In The European Context," EURINT, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 2, pages 328-341.
    13. Timothy M Smeeding, 2002. "Globalisation, Inequality and the Rich Countries of the G-20: Evidence from the Luxembourg Income Study (LIS)," RBA Annual Conference Volume (Discontinued), in: David Gruen & Terry O'Brien & Jeremy Lawson (ed.),Globalisation, Living Standards and Inequality: Recent Progress and Continuing Challenges, Reserve Bank of Australia.
    14. Edirisa Nseera, 2014. "Working Paper 206 - Growth and Distributional Impact of Agriculture, Textiles and Mining Sectors in Lesotho," Working Paper Series 2137, African Development Bank.
    15. Miki Malul & Amir Shoham & Leon Zolotoy, 2011. "The effects of societal culture attributes on regional disparity," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 38(7), pages 649-661, June.
    16. Anneli Kaasa, 2005. "Factors Of Income Inequality And Their Influence Mechanisms: A Theoretical Overview," University of Tartu - Faculty of Economics and Business Administration Working Paper Series 40, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Tartu (Estonia).

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