Global interpersonal inequality: Trends and measurement

Arbeitspapier

This paper discusses different approaches to the measurement of global interpersonal in equality. Trends in global interpersonal inequality during 1975-2005 are measured using data from UNU-WIDER's World Income Inequality Database. In order to better understand the trends, global interpersonal inequality is decomposed into within-country and between-country inequality. The paper illustrates that the relationship between global interpersonal inequality and these constituent components is a complex one. In particular, we demonstrate that the changes in China's and India's income distributions over the past 30 years have simultaneously caused inequality to rise domestically in those countries, while tending to reduce global inter-personal inequality. In light of these findings, we reflect on the meaning and policy relevance of global vis-à-vis domestic inequality measures.

Object Details

• ISBN: 978-92-9230-725-7
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: WIDER Working Paper ; No. 2014/004

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Personal Income, Wealth, and Their Distributions ; Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement ; Measurement and Data on National Income and Product Accounts and Wealth; Environmental Accounts ; Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
• Subject: global interpersonal inequality ; inequality ; inequality measurement

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Niño-Zarazúa, Miguel ; Roope, Laurence ; Tarp, Finn
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)
• (where): Helsinki
• (when): 2014

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.35188/UNU-WIDER/2014/725-7
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/96323
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET