We examine an assumed link between reducing inequality in income distribution, namely reducing the Gini coefficient on one hand, and improving public health in general and lowering the incidence and severity of COVID-19 in particular on the other hand. The Gini coefficient can be shown to...

The Gini coefficient is based on the sum of pairwise income differences, which can be decomposed into separate sums for individuals. Differences vis-à-vis poorer people represent an individual's advantage, while those with respect to richer people constitute deprivation. Weighting deprivation...

The aim of the article is to assess the impact of taxes on poverty and inequality in Ukraine and provide recommendations on how taxation should be used to address problems of inequality and poverty. The research methodology is based on a combination of linear regression and commitment to equity...

This paper asks who within a polity underestimates inequality and what consequences does this underestimation have for politics. Previous studies show that people misperceive overall inequality or where their own income is in the income distribution. In Japan, there are more people who...

In this paper, we demonstrate how age-adjusted inequality measures can be used to evaluate whether changes in inequality over time are due to changes in the age structure. To this end, we use administrative data on earnings for every male Norwegian during 1967-2000. We find that the substantial...

This paper presents a theoretical model to show how distributional concerns can engender social conflict. We have a two‐period model that highlights the crucial role of future inequality. Equality of assets and income in the current period does not stop conflict from arising the anticipated...

In this paper we revisit the relationship between democracy, redistribution, and inequality. We first explain the theoretical reasons why democracy is expected to increase redistribution and reduce inequality, and why this expectation may fail to be realized when democracy is captured by the...