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Earnings Inequality in Australia

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  • JEFF BORLAND
  • ROGER WILKINS

Abstract

This study examines the nature and sources of changes in the distributions of earnings for full‐time male and female employees in Australia between 1975 and 1994. Measures of change in real earnings and in earnings inequality are constructed using grouped earnings data for 1975 to 1994, and individual‐level earnings data for 1982, 1986 and 1990. The effects on earnings inequality of changes in the skill composition of the workforce and in returns to skills are assessed through a variety of tests, and changes in earnings inequality in Australia are compared with recent trends in other countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeff Borland & Roger Wilkins, 1996. "Earnings Inequality in Australia," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 72(216), pages 7-23, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecorec:v:72:y:1996:i:216:p:7-23
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-4932.1996.tb02605.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Bruce Chapman & Mark Rodrigues & Chris Ryan, 2008. "An Analysis of FEE-HELP in the Vocational Education and Training Sector," CEPR Discussion Papers 570, Centre for Economic Policy Research, Research School of Economics, Australian National University.
    2. Garry F. Barrett & Thomas F. Crossley & Christopher Worswick, 2000. "Consumption and Income Inequality in Australia," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 76(233), pages 116-138, June.
    3. Paul W. Miller, 1997. "The Burden of Unemployment on Family Units: An Overview," Australian Economic Review, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, vol. 30(1), pages 16-30, March.
    4. David Johnson & Roger Wilkins, 2003. "The Effects of Changes in Family Composition and Employment Patterns on the Distribution of Income in Australia: 1982 to 1997-1998," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2003n19, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    5. Jeff Borland, 1996. "Union Effects on Earnings Dispersion in Australia, 1986–1994," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 34(2), pages 237-248, June.
    6. J. W. Nevile & Peter Saunders, 1998. "Globalization and the Return to Education in Australia," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 74(226), pages 279-285, September.
    7. Peter Gottschalk & Mary Joyce, 1998. "Cross-National Differences In The Rise In Earnings Inequality: Market And Institutional Factors," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 80(4), pages 489-502, November.
    8. Iain Campbell & Peter Brosnan, 1999. "Labour Market Deregulation in Australia: The slow combustion approach to workplace change," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(3), pages 353-394.
    9. Elizabeth Webster & Yi‐Ping Tseng, 2002. "The Determinants of Relative Wage Change in Australia," Australian Economic Review, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, vol. 35(1), pages 70-84, March.
    10. Paul Blacklow & Ranjan Ray, 2000. "A Comparison of Income and Expenditure Inequality Estimates: The Australian Evidence, 1975–76 to 1993–94," Australian Economic Review, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, vol. 33(4), pages 317-329, December.
    11. Roger Wilkins, 2003. "Immigrant and Native-born Earnings Distributions in Australia: 1982-1996," Australian Journal of Labour Economics (AJLE), Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin Business School, vol. 6(1), pages 83-115, March.
    12. Andrew Leigh, 2005. "Deriving Long‐Run Inequality Series from Tax Data," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 81(s1), pages 58-70, August.
    13. Craig de Laine & Patrick Laplagne & Susan Stone, 2001. "The increasing demand for skilled workers in Australia: the role of technical change," Labor and Demography 0105005, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Jeff Borland, 1996. "Earnings Inequality in Australia: Changes and Causes," Canadian International Labour Network Working Papers 05, McMaster University.
    15. Guyonne Kalb & Sholeh A. Maani, 2007. "The Importance of Observing Early School Leaving and Usually Unobserved Background and Peer Characteristics in Analysing Academic Performance," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2007n05, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    16. Ross Kelly & Philip E.T. Lewis, 2003. "The New Economy and Demand for Skills," Australian Journal of Labour Economics (AJLE), Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin Business School, vol. 6(1), pages 135-152, March.
    17. Shahateet, Mohammed, 2006. "How Serious is Regional Economic Inequality in Jordan? Evidence from Two National Household Surveys," MPRA Paper 57118, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    18. Jeff Borland, 1999. "Earnings Inequality in Australia: Changes, Causes and Consequences," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 75(2), pages 177-202, June.
    19. Jeff Borland & Michael Coelli, 2016. "Labour Market Inequality in Australia," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 92(299), pages 517-547, December.
    20. Anthony B. ATKINSON, 2007. "The distribution of earnings in OECD countries," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 146(1-2), pages 41-60, March.
    21. Ann Harding & Sue Richardson, 1998. "Unemployment and Income Distribution," RBA Annual Conference Volume (Discontinued), in: Guy Debelle & Jeff Borland (ed.),Unemployment and the Australian Labour Market, Reserve Bank of Australia.
    22. Shahateet, Mohammed & Al-Tayyeb, Saud, 2007. "Regional consumption inequalities in Jordan: Empirical study," MPRA Paper 57400, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    23. James Vickery, 1999. "Unemployment and Skills in Australia," RBA Research Discussion Papers rdp1999-12, Reserve Bank of Australia.
    24. Sholeh A. Maani & Guyonne Kalb, 2003. "Childhood Economic Resources, Academic Performance and the Choice to Leave School at Age Sixteen," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2003n01, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General

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