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Factor Components of Inequality: Cross-Country Differences and Time Changes

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  • Cecilia García-Peñalosa
  • Richard Breen
  • Elsa Orgiazzi

Abstract

Recent work on inequality has examined either changes in the distribution of income or in that of earnings, without examining how the latter affects the former. In this paper we perform a factor decomposition of income inequality in order to assess the importance of earnings and income from other sources in recent changes in inequality. We examine data for 8 industrial countries over the last three decades of the 20th century. Our findings indicate that although changes in the distribution of earnings are an important aspect of recent increases in inequality, they are not the only one. In some countries the contribution of self-employment income to inequality has been on the rise. In others, increases in inequality in capital income probably caused by tax changes account for a substantial fraction of changes in the distribution of income.

Suggested Citation

  • Cecilia García-Peñalosa & Richard Breen & Elsa Orgiazzi, 2008. "Factor Components of Inequality: Cross-Country Differences and Time Changes," LIS Working papers 503, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    • Handle: RePEc:lis:liswps:503
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Koen Caminada & Jinxian Wang & Kees Goudswaard & Chen Wang, 2017. "Income inequality and fiscal redistribution in 47 LIS-countries, 1967-2014," LIS Working papers 724, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    2. Tahnee Christelle Ooms, 2021. "Correcting the Underestimation of Capital Incomes in Inequality Indicators: with an Application to the UK, 1997–2016," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 157(3), pages 929-953, October.
    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. Ooms, Tahnee, 2021. "Correcting the underestimation of capital incomes in inequality indicators: with an application to the UK, 1997–2016," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 108900, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D33 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Factor Income Distribution

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