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Investigating inequality trends in Africa: ACEIR research and the WIID

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  • Martin Wittenberg
  • Murray Leibbrandt

Abstract

Work done by the African Centre of Excellence for Inequality Research (ACEIR) has documented the many-faceted nature of inequality in Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. Conventionally measured inequality ranges from moderate (in Ghana) to extremely high (in South Africa). Trying to tell one coherent story about African inequality, however, is difficult. The construction of comparable measures across countries and across time runs into the problem that data quality varies across instruments.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Wittenberg & Murray Leibbrandt, 2023. "Investigating inequality trends in Africa: ACEIR research and the WIID," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2023-102, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2023-102
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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/Publications/Working-paper/PDF/wp2023-102-investigating-inequality-trends-Africa.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Richmond Atta-Ankomah & Monica P. Lambon-Quayefio & Robert Darko Osei, 2023. "Differences in inequality measurement: Ghana case study," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2023-91, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    2. Facundo Alvaredo & Thomas Piketty & Emmanuel Saez & Lucas Chancel & Gabriel Zucman, 2018. "World Inequality Report 2018," PSE-Ecole d'économie de Paris (Postprint) halshs-01885458, HAL.
    3. Chancel, Lucas & Cogneau, Denis & Gethin, Amory & Myczkowski, Alix & Robilliard, Anne-Sophie, 2023. "Income inequality in Africa, 1990–2019: Measurement, patterns, determinants," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    4. Frederick Solt, 2020. "Measuring Income Inequality Across Countries and Over Time: The Standardized World Income Inequality Database," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 101(3), pages 1183-1199, May.
    5. Muna Shifa & Rejoice Mabhena & Vimal Ranchhod & Murray Leibbrandt, 2023. "An assessment of inequality estimates for the case of South Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2023-90, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    6. Cornia, Giovanni Andrea & Martorano, Bruno, 2017. "Income Inequality Trends in sub-Saharan Africa: Divergence, determinants and consequences: Building an Integrated Inequality Dataset and the ‘Seven Sins’ of Inequality Measurement in Sub-Saharan Afric," UNDP Africa Reports 267776, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
    7. Cornia, Giovanni Andrea & Odusola, Ayodele & Bhorat, Haroon & Conceição, Pedro, 2017. "Income Inequality Trends in sub-Saharan Africa Divergence, Determinants and Consequences: Introduction, Motivation and Overview," UNDP Africa Reports 267639, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
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    Keywords

    Inequality measurement; Ghana; Kenya; South Africa; WIID;
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