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This paper critically examines the claim that Utah is "the most sexist state" in the United States, as suggested by a WalletHub report ranking it lowest in "Women's Equality." Utilizing an economic analysis from the Austrian School perspective, this study scrutinizes the data, metrics, and conclusions of reports by the Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP). The analysis focuses on distinguishing statistical disparities from sexism, proposing that observed gender inequalities in Utah are largely influenced by cultural and economic factors, particularly the state's high marriage rate and traditional gender roles. Contrary to the notion that sexism predominantly drives gender disparities, the paper argues that personal choices and subjective value theory play significant roles in shaping these outcomes. The study highlights the importance of considering cultural context, individual preferences, and the marital asymmetry hypothesis when interpreting gender-related data, challenging the assertion that Utah's gender disparities are primarily due to sexist attitudes. The findings suggest that Utah's gender gaps in areas such as income and workforce participation are more accurately attributed to the state's unique cultural and economic landscape rather than pervasive sexism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper highlights the necessity for nations to adopt green growth strategies to achieve economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental sustainability. By examining governance indicators in six East Asian economies from 1995 to 2021, it finds that a 1% increase in the rule of law boosts green energy deployment by 0.33%, while a 1% rise in corruption reduces it by 0.25%. Similarly, a 1% increase in transparency leads to a 0.45% rise in green energy. Higher income levels encourage green energy adoption, with a 1% increase in income resulting in a 0.19% boost, whereas a 1% rise in income inequality decreases deployment by 0.32%. The paper suggests policies to enhance the rule of law, promote transparent governance, reduce income inequality, and encourage inclusive growth to support green growth objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the effects of low-skilled immigration inflows on the motherhood gaps in wages among high-skilled women. Applying IV methods to U.S. census and ACS data, this paper first confirms previous findings in the literature that mothers are less willing to increase their work hours than childless women with inflows of low-skilled immigrants. However, the main contribution of the paper is showing that as the low-skilled labor supply increases, high-skilled mothers achieve more wage improvement than otherwise identical nonmothers. The findings in this paper imply that an increase in the low-skilled labor supply reduces the gender pay gap among high-skilled native workers, and most importantly, it is driven by women with children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper criticizes attempts to present narrow perspectives on innovation policy as reflecting the use of the concept innovation system. While it is correct that innovation policy, at least until recently, has given higher priority to economic growth than to global challenges such as climate change and income inequality this is in no way immanent in the innovation system concept. To illustrate, the author introduces concepts and perspectives related to the innovation system approach which are particularly useful, when it comes to develop innovation policies aiming at system transformation. It is concluded that there is a need to combine different theoretical framings as inspiration for transformative innovation policy. In addition, all framings need to have a double focus on climate change and global income inequality, and they need to go beyond national perspectives and consider policies aiming at system transformation at the global level. While the paper refers to empirical illustrations it is principally conceptual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examining the future trajectory of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reveals that challenges persist in achieving their targets. While each SDG embodies unique aspirations, overarching challenges permeate its implementation. This paper, with its primary goal to raise awareness about the challenges of SDG 10, directs attention to the challenges surrounding SDG 10, focusing on reducing inequality within and among countries. Through a concise exploration, it identifies five major obstacles impeding progress toward this goal. Firstly, economic inequality poses a significant barrier, with disparities in income and wealth acting as major hindrances to achieving equality. Secondly, social exclusion exacerbates these inequalities, with marginalized groups such as minorities, women, and people with disabilities facing significant barriers to accessing resources and opportunities. Thirdly, political barriers, including a lack of political will and ineffective governance systems, are impeding efforts to address inequality and promote inclusive policies. The fourth challenge is unequal education and healthcare access, perpetuating social and economic disparities. Finally, global economic interdependence, driven by globalization, is exacerbating inequalities between countries, particularly in areas such as trade, finance, and technology access. By delineating these challenges within SDG 10, this paper aims to underscore the multifaceted nature of inequality and the imperative for targeted interventions to advance sustainable development. It's important to note that addressing these challenges is not a task for one entity, but requires the collective efforts of all stakeholders. It necessitates innovative strategies and, most importantly, collaborative partnerships to foster a more equitable and inclusive world. Your involvement, as a key stakeholder, is crucial in this endeavor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim is to study the impact of schooling on between-groups wage inequality beyond the lens of the standard approach in the literature. Design/methodology/approach: Simple econometric theory is used to make the main point of the paper. Supporting empirical evidence is also presented. Findings: Disregarding the persistence of current earnings implies a bias in the estimation of the wage return to schooling both at labour-market entry and in the rest of the working life. Research limitations/implications: The use of current earnings as a dependent variable in wage-schooling models may be problematic and requires specific handling. Social implications: The impact of schooling on the between-groups dimension of wage inequality may be different than previously thought. Originality/value: The paper is the first to show that, when current earnings are used as a dependent variable, the identification of a wage-schooling model with the standard (time-invariant external instrument-variable) approach may lead to misleading conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study contributes to income equality (IE) literature by examining four important issues. First, the study examines the effects of foreign bank presence (FBP) on IE. Second, the paper identifies the minimum threshold level of FBP which can lead to IE. Third, the effect of economic freedom on IE was investigated. Fourth, the paper determines whether economic freedom interacts with FBP to minimise IE. The findings are based on macro data for 33 African countries from 1995 to 2020. The findings from the two-stage system generalised method of moment indicate that unconditionally, FBP reduces income inequality. Also, results from the threshold effect reveal that whilst FBP reduces income inequality, if it exceeds 52%, it may contribute to it. Additionally, the study reveals that economic freedom dampens IIE. Furthermore, economic freedom conditions FBP to reduce IE. Based on these findings, policymakers are advised to exercise caution in attracting foreign banks and to promote local financial institutions. Policymakers are also advised to implement policies to promote economic freedom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry has become increasingly salient as the industry continues to struggle with recruitment and retention of high-quality talent throughout construction organizations in the US. The existing literature has explored the barriers faced by various groups who are underrepresented in the construction industry; however, the research is fragmented and lacks a set of synthetic conclusions to drive future work. To this end, we performed a systematic literature review (SLR) to analyze the existing literature, which has categorized the barriers contributing to underrepresentation of women, ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ), and individuals who have been previously incarcerated. As a result of the SLR, 10 influential variable clusters affecting the recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups were identified, including (1) organizational aspects, (2) work environment, (3) work–life balance, (4) individual or project performance, (5) education, (6) health, (7) safety, (8) wage gap, (9) communication, and (10) ethics. Our findings lead to suggestions for further research, including a need to identify best practices based on empirical evidence from within the range of current DEI practices that have been investigated by prior research. Our results can benefit practitioners, legislators, employers, and others working to improve DEI in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the impact mechanism by which an incentive-based fertility policy may reduce the labor income share. First, the specific paths through which this impact mechanism is realized are analyzed using the production function. It is found that an incentive-based fertility policy triggers high savings, which implies more, cheaper, and more readily available capital to be invested in production. A distribution system that earns income based on factor contributions results in more gains for capital than labor, i.e., a lower share of labor income and a wider income gap between labor and capital. Second, the impact mechanism includes three theoretical hypotheses. They are that an encouraging fertility policy is negatively related to labor income share; this relationship is valid provided that the study subject is in a closed economy; and that capital intensification is a mediator variable of fertility policy affecting labor income share. Finally, to further corroborate the impact mechanism in this paper, a Hansen threshold panel model is applied to verify that the effect of fertility policy on labor income share has a threshold effect. This indicates that the effect of the former on the latter changes significantly before and after the change in fertility policy, confirming the existence of an impact mechanism. The established literature has paid little attention to the impact of incentivised fertility policies on the labour income gap. Using capital intensification as the mediating variable, this paper demonstrates the existence of the former effect on the latter. In view of this, under the encouraged fertility policy, this paper proposes specific measures to enhance the labor income share in order to narrow the income gap between labor and capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper systematically analyzes the spatiotemporal evolution trends and macroeconomic driving factors of farmland transfer at the provincial level in China since 2005, aiming to offer a new perspective for understanding the dynamic mechanisms of China's farmland transfer. Through the integrated use of kernel density estimation, the Markov model, and panel quantile regression methods, this study finds the following: (1) Farmland transfer rates across Chinese provinces show an overall upward trend, but regional differences exhibit a "U-shaped" evolution characterized by initially narrowing and then widening; (2) although provinces have relatively stable farmland transfer levels, there is potential for dynamic transitions; (3) factors such as per capita arable land, farmers' disposable income, the social security level, the urban‒rural income gap, the urbanization rate, government intervention, and the marketization level significantly promote farmland transfer, while inclusive finance inhibits transfer, and agricultural mechanization level and population aging have heterogeneous impacts. Therefore, to achieve convergence of low farmland transfer regions to medium levels while promoting medium-level regions to higher levels, it is recommended that the government increase support for agricultural mechanization, increase farmers' income and social security levels, and optimize marketization processes and government intervention strategies. The main contributions of this paper are (1) systematically revealing the spatiotemporal evolution patterns of China's farmland transfer and (2) employing panel quantile regression methods to explore the heterogeneous impacts of driving factors, providing more precise and detailed empirical support for the government's formulation of farmland transfer policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilizes data from A-share listed companies between 2011 and 2020 to empirically investigate the impact and mechanism of public welfare donations on the internal income gap of enterprises. The research findings indicate that public welfare donations significantly increase the per capita salary of management, while their impact on the per capita salary of ordinary employees is not significant, thus leading to an expansion of the internal income gap within enterprises. The results from mechanism testing reveal that the income tax benefits resulting from charitable donations and the rise in corporate operating income have contributed to an increase in excess rent shared by enterprises and employees. Due to a stronger bargaining power, management shares more excess rents, thereby widening the income gap within the enterprise. Heterogeneity analysis demonstrates that public welfare donations have a greater impact on the internal income gap of non-state-owned enterprises; however, limiting executive compensation and enhancing employees' bargaining power can mitigate this widening effect caused by public welfare donations on enterprise's internal income gap. The research value of this study is threefold. Firstly, there is a scarcity of studies on the impact of public welfare donations on the income gap within enterprises, and this study contributes to enriching the research in this area. Secondly, this paper examines the effect of tax incentives for public welfare donations on the internal income gap of enterprises, thereby deepening the research on the impact of tax reduction and fee reduction, as well as expanding our understanding of corporate income tax preferential policies. Thirdly, it offers insights into improving enterprise compensation systems and enhancing corporate governance. Senior executives can potentially allocate more excess rent through their strong bargaining power. If their compensation remains unrestricted, it may lead to a widening internal income gap and negatively affect company operational efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human capital is a nation's primary source of inner strength to achieve sustainable economic growth and development. Meanwhile, income inequality is a critical issue preventing sustainable economic growth and social transformation, especially in developing countries. This paper investigates the effect of human capital on income inequality in both the short and long term using the mean group, pooled mean group, and threshold regressions for the ASEAN-7 (including Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) from 1992 to 2018. The paper develops a theoretical linkage between human capital and income inequality by combining the learning theory and the Kuznets hypothesis. This linkage is then tested using data from the ASEAN countries. Findings from the paper indicate that human capital reduces income inequality in the short run in the ASEAN countries. However, the effect is reverted in the long run, suggesting that human capital may increase the income gap in these countries. Particularly, the inverted U-shaped relationship between human capital and income inequality is established for the ASEAN countries whose GDP per capita is lower than USD 8.2 thousand per year. In contrast, the U-shaped relationship is found for the countries with income per capital of more than USD 8.2 thousand. All these findings suggest that social policies targeting reducing income inequality should be prioritized and stay at the centre of any economic policies to achieve sustainable economic growth and development in the ASEAN countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore whether digital finance can reduce agricultural carbon emissions, promote regional convergence, and foster inclusivity in rural revitalization and shared prosperity, this paper uses the provincial-level index of digital financial inclusion to analyze the impact of digital financial inclusion on the intensity of agricultural carbon emissions and the Degum Gini coefficient (D-Gini coefficient) of regional carbon emission intensity in 30 sample provinces from 2010 to 2020. It examines the mechanism of the impact of digital financial inclusion on both variables to understand the underlying factors better. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) Digital financial inclusion significantly reduces the intensity of agricultural carbon emissions and narrows the gap in carbon emission intensity between regions. (2) The unconditional quantile regression coefficients show that the negative coefficients of the digital financial inclusion index and the three-dimensional indices decrease with increasing quantiles. However, the significant effects vary significantly at different quantiles. (3) Technological progress and the government's ability to allocate financial resources play a significant mediating role, and the income gap between urban and rural areas can be further narrowed, as well as the carbon emission intensity gap between provinces. The empirical results are robust and proven by replacing the econometric analysis method, changing the core variables, and other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sandbox is a non-accredited training programme in the performing arts and digital technologies for young people in four blighted neighbourhoods in Panama. In this paper, I reflect on my role in the design of this programme, how it was later implemented and whether it contributed to processes of economic development. To guide this reflection, I use a social capacities framework, where economic development is seen as a set of dynamics that enhances human flourishing (James 2018). The paper uses a wide range of data sources, including interviews with participants of the programme. My reflection concludes that programmes such as Sandbox work more effectively not when looking to create jobs and income, but when they aim to develop the capacities of participants to discover who they are within their own social context, helping them come closer to the labour market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the data of China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), this paper decomposed Chinese residents' income into labor income and capital income by income source, and measured the income inequality and income composition inequality of Chinese residents during 2010–2018. We take the Gini coefficient as a measure of inequality and, by decomposing it by income source, analyze the absolute and relative marginal effects of capital income and labor income on the overall income inequality. On this basis, this paper discusses the redistributive effect of financial instruments such as personal income tax and transfer payment on income inequality and income composition inequality. The results show that capital income is not only the main driving factor for the increase of overall income inequality, but also its influence on inequality is gradually increasing. The results of the redistribution effect of fiscal instruments show that although individual income tax and transfer payment both help to reduce the overall income inequality, only individual income tax can reduce the inequality of income composition, while transfer payment will exacerbate it. In the background of the rising share of capital income, it may widen the income distribution gap in the long run. Hence, future fiscal redistribution efforts should consider the income composition inequality. This includes further promotion of individual income tax reforms, optimization of the tax rate structure, enhancement of relevant tax laws governing capital income like property income, and continuous improvement in the redistributive impact of fiscal instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses how economic insecurity poses immense threats to public safety and social order in South Africa. It was found that economic insecurity threatens public safety and social order because it disrupts the delivery of essential services such as healthcare, education, political leadership, and governance, making it impossible for people to access sustainable services that meet their expectations. Blockchain creates an automated, autonomous, and self-governing infrastructure that eliminates the need for traditional structures like managers, policies, offices, contracts, and centralized strategies. In banking systems and during financial transactions, blockchain speeds up clearing and settlement processes without requiring later approval. It promotes transparency, reduces transaction risks, and eliminates data centralization. Blockchain improves market efficiency and ensures equitable market access. Blockchain prevents fraud and corruption. A qualitative methodology was adopted to achieve the above assertions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper explores the complex relationship between energy poverty and the maintenance of democratic values within the European Union (EU), suggesting that energy poverty not only impacts economic stability and health outcomes but also poses significant challenges to democratic engagement and equity. To measure energy poverty, a composite index is developed using the entropy method, which surpasses traditional measures focused solely on access to energy or its developmental implications. To assess the level of democratic governance in EU countries, the voice and accountability index (VEA), which is part of the World Governance Indicators compiled by the World Bank, is utilized. By analyzing EU data from 2006 to 2022, the findings suggest that a 1% improvement in VEA quality, represented by a coefficient of 0.122, is correlated with a notable improvement in the energy poverty index. This suggests that the EU should focus on enhancing transparency and public participation in energy decision-making, along with ensuring accountability in policy implementation. The research also differentiates between full and flawed democracies, noting that tailored approaches are needed. In full democracies, leveraging economic prosperity and trade is crucial due to their significant positive impacts on the energy poverty index. In contrast, in flawed democracies, enhancing governance and accountability is more impactful, as evidenced by a higher coefficient of 0.193. Strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks, improving regulatory quality, and ensuring public engagement in governance could substantially mitigate energy poverty in these contexts. In addition, this paper demonstrates that this relationship is influenced by factors such as income inequality, energy intensity, and trade openness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitization is becoming the key to achieving rural revitalization, and there is a complex inter-active relationship with farmer enrichment, and agriculture development, making it highly valued by governments around the world. Quantitatively evaluating the symbiotic relationship between rural digitization, farmer enrichment, and agricultural development, and reveal the driving mechanism behind them, which can provide evidence for the rural government, agricultural enterprises, and relevant stakeholders. This paper conducts an empirical study of 84 digital village national pilots in China based on coupling coordination model and geographically weighted regression, with focus on the spatial characteristics, symbiotic relationship and driving mechanisms of the pilots. The symbiotic relationship between rural digitization, farmer enrichment, and agriculture development has significant heterogeneity, with most of the pilots in coordination state. The driving mechanism of rural digitization, farmer enrichment, agriculture development, and symbiotic relationship were complicated, with significant heterogeneity and synergy in the driving forces of different factors, and special attention should be paid to spatial effects (the nature and intensity of regression coefficients in local regions) in the policy design and implementation. It is worth noting that population aging mainly plays a negative role, while industrialization, government support, resident capacity plays a positive role. The other factors play both positive and negative roles. Income gap between urban and rural residents, population aged 65 and above, financial self-sufficiency are the most critical factors. We suggest developing differentiated management policy, accurate management policy, and integrated management policy, which can provide a basis for digital village and smart village planning, construction and management in China. In view of the significant differences in rural digitalization and its driving mechanisms in different pilots as shown in the study, it is necessary to design differentiated spatial policies according to local conditions, to design accurate management policies based on the driving effects of key single factors, and to design integrated development policies by taking into account the interactive effects of multiple factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper suggests how lessons from Germany's national-level, comprehensively focused place-based regeneration (or levelling up) efforts could be applied in the UK. It draws the direct linkage between spatial inequality and the decline of large-scale heavy manufacturing industry at the end of the 20th century in Germany and the UK. It also posits that rapid deindustrialisation, poor-quality education and other indices of poverty and economic inequality have fuelled political fragmentation — including loss of public trust in government, national and civic institutions — in both countries. The paper explores and compares two sets of German redevelopment efforts over time, in the industrial heartland of the former West German Ruhr region and across the former East Germany, to assess their impacts on reducing political polarisation as well as bolstering redevelopment. It highlights which elements of these efforts have been most successful and why. The German experience, as described in the paper, clearly demonstrates that it takes decades to achieve measurable positive economic outcomes from redevelopment programmes. Political outcomes can also be mixed, even negative, if grassroots sentiment and public well-being are ignored or discounted in the process. In the former East Germany, despite huge transfers of development funds, grievances rooted in the economic and political dislocation of German unification in the 1990s have fuelled anti-establishment politics. The paper also examines how grassroots, philanthropic and private sector actors work alongside regional and federal governments in Germany in shaping positive political as well as socio-economic outcomes and how this might be most effectively adapted for the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a 2003 article, Karl Moene (University of Oslo) and Michael Wallerstein (Yale University) demonstrated that wealthier citizens tend to support higher spending in social policies directed at the unemployed, while preferring lower spending in policies aimed at the employed. This paper reveals that these findings hinge on two key assumptions: that citizens have a coefficient of relative risk aversion (CRRA) greater than one, and that all citizens face an equal probability of job loss—a presumption which is not necessarily realistic. By incorporating the observation that job security tends to correlate positively with income, we demonstrate that affluent individuals may still advocate for reduced spending in unemployment policies, even when their CRRA exceeds one. Moreover, a significant shift in the distribution of job security—such as during an abrupt economic crisis—might engender greater societal support for these policies, contrary to their previous research. Finally, empirical data from recent Brazilian history provide analytical support for the theoretical assertions presented herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There exists a vast empirical literature on Financial Sector Development (FSD) and the income inequality nexus; however, it lacks consensus. To study this, 24 studies with 87 regression estimates on financial institution depth and income inequality were collected. This paper used the most common method of economic meta-analysis, the Partial Correlation Coefficient (PCC), to answer the question: What is the magnitude and impact, if any, of financial institution depth on income inequality? In addition, a multivariate meta-regression model was used to find moderator variables that produced mixed results in the literature. The results show that the global average comovement of financial institution depth (domestic credit) on income inequality is very small but positive; suggesting that growth in domestic credit may widen income inequality. The positive correlation between domestic credit and income inequality highlights how financial institutions use household income and collateral as a signal when deciding on credit applications. Finally, the multivariate regression results suggest that the present heterogeneity within the literature stems from different methodologies and control variables included in the econometric models, and panel studies that mix countries with heterogeneous characteristics. These suggest that different components of FSD may impact income inequality differently [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender equality in the labor market remains a difficult challenge in Latin America and recent literature shows that child penalties play an important role in explaining these gaps. While policies to address gaps related to parenthood were introduced in recent decades, evidence of its effects is still scarce. This paper presents comparable evidence on the adoption of family leaves legislation in 15 Latin American countries and discusses its relationship with the evolution of the gender gaps in the labor market and the prevailing gender norms. We document that from 2000 to 2019 almost all countries increased the weeks covered by maternity, paternity, or parental leaves. Following a similar approach to that of Olivetti and Petrongolo (2017), we exploit the variations over time and control for country and year-fixed effects to study the relationship between the extension of family leaves and women's outcomes. We find that these policies are successful in increasing female employment and reducing employment gaps in countries departing from a worse situation in terms of leave coverage or with more traditional perceptions of gender roles. On the other hand, for countries with more egalitarian gender perceptions, our results suggest that the extension of family leaves contributes to reduce the income gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the long-run equilibrium relationship between economic growth and income inequality while documenting the structural transformation of the Romanian economy over the period 1990–2020. First, we examine the structural changes that have accompanied economic development and the historical trend of income inequality to better understand the mechanism connecting inequality and growth. Second, we study the long-term relationship between income inequality and economic development in the framework of the Kuznets hypothesis, using the ARDL bounds testing procedure for cointegration. Data for income inequality come from the most recent revisions of the World Inequality Database. The empirical findings support a nonlinear long-run relationship between income inequality and GDP per capita. The left half of an inverted U-shaped curve is revealed by the data, but the right half is not yet clearly outlined. We also find that the service-driven structural transformation experienced by Romania underlies this pattern. There is an inverted U-shaped relationship between inequality measures and services employment share. Overall, several stylized empirical facts are pointed out regarding the structural changes and the level of development of the Romanian economy, which can be seen as prerequisites of the transition to the right half of the inverted U-shaped curve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational choice models predict that, ceteris paribus, countries with higher dispersion of skill will have higher market labour income inequality. However, an extended conclusion from empirical research is that cross-country variations in dispersion of skill explain little of the variation in income inequality. This paper identifies factors related to production and organization technologies that moderate the relationship between dispersion of skill and dispersion of income in occupational choice equilibrium outcomes and that, if not properly accounted for, can bias the results of the empirical studies that explain dispersion of income as a function of dispersion of skill. In particular, comparing equilibrium outcomes from occupational choices in economies that differ in the distribution of skill and in the efficiency of supervision hierarchies, the paper can explain why the US and Sweden have similar labour productivity, but income inequality is higher in the US than in Sweden, and why productivity is lower and income inequality is higher in Spain than in Sweden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the effect of uncertainty on income inequality on a dataset of 66 developing countries over the period 2000-2020. The generalized method of moments is used to address the problems of simultaneity and endogeneity. Our robust results show that uncertainty, approximated by the World Uncertainty Index, increases income inequality. However, this effect is not robust and depends on the capacity of a country to finance public spending with its own resources. Indeed, world uncertainty exacerbates income inequality in developing countries during periods when they need financing. However, during periods when countries are in a situation of self-financing capacity, the amplifying effect of uncertainty on income inequality is mitigated. Indeed, the improvement in the capacity of a country to finance public spending with its own resources contributes to reducing income inequalities. These results confirm the socio-economic stabilizing role that fiscal policy management could play during periods of uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the relationship between income inequality and consumption, utilizing panel data from rural China over a span of four years to validate the application of relative income theory in the domain of food consumption. Food consumption represents a significant portion of expenditures for the low-income demographic and is of vital importance to China's food security and agricultural development. To ascertain the impact of income inequality on food consumption, this paper employs a bi-directional fixed-effects model, a mediation effect model, and machine learning causal analysis methods. Utilizing four years of rural resident survey data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey database, the study empirically tests the effect of income inequality on various types of food consumption, the channels through which it operates, and the heterogeneity among different income groups and educational backgrounds. The findings indicate that (1) income inequality within rural communities positively influences food consumption, and this conclusion remains robust under endogeneity treatment and robustness checks, positively affecting the transformation of food consumption and healthy intake; (2) income inequality among rural residents promotes food consumption through two mediating channels: the "demonstration effect" and the "ratchet effect;" (3) the impact of income inequality on food consumption exhibits heterogeneity among rural residents of different income levels and educational backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Redistribution for income equality is a contentious issue, with advocates citing increased economic stability and skeptics fearing potential negative impacts on economic growth. The United States (U.S.) faces notably high income inequality compared to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average, with wealth concentrated in the top brackets. This paper critically examines the existing U.S. redistribution methods, including the taxation system and welfare programs, highlighting challenges such as the lack of tax progressiveness in top brackets and limited redistribution compared to European counterparts. Based on this overview, the study evaluates alternative redistribution strategies, including wealth and business taxes. The paper compares theory with insights from pilot programs in other countries. Finally, the paper argues for a universal basic income (UBI) set at per-capita welfare spending, positing that this approach can empower individuals to escape poverty traps, enhance productivity, and introduce a choice mechanism for welfare consumption. Ultimately, this research seeks to propose the most effective and feasible income redistribution policies for the U.S. to bridge the income inequality gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study identifies economic, political, and institutional variables that influence the distribution of personal incomes in the Eurozone countries facing severe fiscal imbalances, namely Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. Crucially, this paper is the first to investigate the effect of the corrective arm of the Stability and Growth Pact, the so-called Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP), on the income distribution of the aforementioned economies, where EDP was imposed over a long time period. The empirical results of this study show that (i) EDP impact depends on the specific mix of policy measures undertaken and that (ii) a high public debt does not reflect the existence of common factors shaping income distribution in the four Southern European economies. The share of labor income in total income, constitutes a significant determinant of income inequality. However, we find that the relationship between labor share and income inequality is also country-specific, depending on the intrinsic characteristics of each individual economic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prescription drug cost-sharing is a barrier to medication adherence, particularly for low-income and minority populations. In this systematic review, we examined the impact of prescription drug cost-sharing and policies to reduce cost-sharing on racial/ethnic and income disparities in medication utilization. We screened 2,145 titles and abstracts and identified 19 peer-reviewed papers that examined the interaction between cost-sharing and racial/ethnic and income disparities in medication adherence or utilization. We found weak but inconsistent evidence that lower cost-sharing is associated with reduced disparities in adherence and utilization, but studies consistently found that significant disparities remained even after adjusting for differences in cost-sharing across individuals. Study designs varied in their ability to measure the causal effect of policy or cost-sharing changes on disparities, and a wide range of policies were examined across studies. Further research is needed to identify the types of policies that are best suited to reduce disparities in medication adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a collection of summaries of various research papers published in the journal "Issues in Political Economy." The papers cover a range of topics including factors contributing to food insecurity in the United States, gender and racial wage gaps within different Christian religious groups, the impact of minimum wage on the gender wage gap, dynamics of secondary markets for IPOs, racial differences in occupational prestige after WW1 agricultural draft deferments, and the impact of minimum wage on employment numbers. The summaries provide a brief overview of each paper's findings and conclusions, offering valuable insights for library patrons conducting research on these specific topics. [Extracted from the article]

The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare many of societies' existing social and economic inequalities, one of which is illustrated in the challenges facing food and farm workers across the food chain. Despite this upsurge in public recognition, the circumstances facing food and farm workers remain unchanged, and this lack of action is reflected within the work of food systems-focused civil society organizations (CSO) in Canada. Several authors have noted the lack of recognition of labor issues within food systems work. This paper further explores the nature of this disengagement, particularly in food systems governance work, and identifies barriers to more meaningful engagement and possible avenues to overcome these challenges. Findings draw from a set of 57 interviews conducted from 2020 to 2023 with a range of food system CSO representatives across Canada, examining their understanding of, and engagement in, food systems governance work and their involvement in labor issues (or lack thereof). The paper concludes that though there exists widespread awareness of the challenges facing food and farm workers, and a desire to engage in a more sustained fashion, many food system CSOs have not yet found the tools or pathways to do so on an organizational level. Several discursive openings are identified that offer an opportunity to leverage the heightened awareness of food and farm workers during the pandemic into concrete collective action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]