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Convergence, income distribution, and the economic crisis in Europe

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  • Kaitila, Ville

Abstract

We analyse the Sigma convergence (standard deviation divided by average) of purchasing power adjusted GDP per capita and GDP per hour worked in the European Union. We also link the development in income distribution as measured by Gini coefficients to convergence. With short pauses, there has been a long term trend of GDP per capita convergence in the European Union after 1960. The Great Recession was a shock to the development, and convergence within the EU-15 has suffered considerably. The largest relative declines have occurred in Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain. On the other hand, the ex-transition countries have mostly continued their catching up. Historically, convergence in the EU has been faster when aggregate GDP growth has been faster. We also find that income disparities measured by Gini coefficients are negatively related to GDP per capita levels. Convergence was not correlated with changes in income distribution in 2000–2011 except for a group of six catching-up countries where we find a positive relation. We also find that there has occurred Sigma convergence in national Gini coefficients

Suggested Citation

  • Kaitila, Ville, 2013. "Convergence, income distribution, and the economic crisis in Europe," ETLA Working Papers 14, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    • Handle: RePEc:rif:wpaper:14
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tuomas Malinen, 2012. "Estimating the long-run relationship between income inequality and economic development," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 42(1), pages 209-233, February.
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    6. Kaitila, Ville, 2004. "Integration and Conditional Convergence in the Enlarged EU Area," Discussion Papers 935, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
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    Cited by:

    1. Guo Yanling & Sell Friedrich L., 2021. "Equilibrium and Convergence in Income Distribution: The Case of 28 European Countries in the Recent, Turbulent Past (1995–2019)," Central European Economic Journal, Sciendo, vol. 8(55), pages 95-125, January.
    2. Zaharia Marian & Gogonea Rodica-Manuela & Balacescu Aniela, 2017. "Considerations About The Distribution Of Small Enterprises In Romania At The Regional And County Level," Annals - Economy Series, Constantin Brancusi University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 2, pages 15-25, April.
    3. Lichner, Ivan & Lyócsa, Štefan & Výrostová, Eva, 2022. "Nominal and discretionary household income convergence: The effect of a crisis in a small open economy," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 18-31.
    4. Michal Bernardelli & Mariusz Prochniak & Bartosz Witkowski, 2017. "The application of hidden Markov models to the analysis of real convergence," Dynamic Econometric Models, Uniwersytet Mikolaja Kopernika, vol. 17, pages 59-80.
    5. Guo, Yanling & Sell, Friedrich L., 2020. "Equilibrium and convergence in personal income distribution? How European countries performed during a phase of huge economic turbulence (2004-2017)," Working Papers in Economics 2020,1, Bundeswehr University Munich, Economic Research Group.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    EU; GDP per capita; productivity; Sigma convergence; Gini coefficient;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • F43 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Economic Growth of Open Economies
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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