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The Long‐run Determinants of Australian Income Inequality

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  • NOEL GASTON
  • GULASEKARAN RAJAGURU

Abstract

Recent interest has been stimulated by the growth of income inequality in most developed countries during the 1980s and 1990s. However, considerable uncertainty still exists as to which factors have been the most important causes of this development. This article uses a measure of income inequality derived from taxation statistics and a recently proposed method for testing long‐run Granger non‐causality to examine the key determinants of Australia's inequality for the years 1970–2001. In line with popular concern, we find that globalisation and technological progress – defined as the global flow of information – has increased income inequality. In contrast, improved terms of trade have been equity‐enhancing. Of the institutional determinants, de‐unionisation has had an adverse effect on income inequality, whereas higher minimum wages have reduced it.

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  • Noel Gaston & Gulasekaran Rajaguru, 2009. "The Long‐run Determinants of Australian Income Inequality," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 85(270), pages 260-275, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecorec:v:85:y:2009:i:270:p:260-275
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-4932.2009.00539.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. John Creedy & Norman Gemmell & Loc Nguyen, 2018. "Income Inequality in New Zealand, 1935–2014," Australian Economic Review, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, vol. 51(1), pages 21-40, March.
    2. Creedy, John & Gemmell, Norman & Nguyen, Loc, 2017. "Income inequality in New Zealand, 1935 – 2014," Working Paper Series 20253, Victoria University of Wellington, Chair in Public Finance.
    3. Madsen, Jakob B. & Islam, Md. Rabiul & Doucouliagos, Hristos, 2018. "Inequality, financial development and economic growth in the OECD, 1870–2011," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 605-624.
    4. Nicholas Biddle & Maxine Montaigne, 2017. "Income Inequality in Australia – Decomposing by City and Suburb," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 36(4), pages 367-379, December.
    5. Mehmet Akif DESTEK, 2018. "Dimensions of globalization and income inequality in transition economies: taking into account cross-sectional dependence," Eastern Journal of European Studies, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 9, pages 5-25, December.
    6. John Creedy & Norman Gemmell & Loc Nguyen, 2018. "Income Inequality in New Zealand, 1935–2014," Australian Economic Review, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, vol. 51(1), pages 21-40, March.
    7. Muhammad Shahbaz & Ijaz Rehman & Nurul Mahdzan, 2014. "Linkages between income inequality, international remittances and economic growth in Pakistan," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 1511-1535, May.
    8. Ebney Ayaj Rana & Mustafa Kamal, 2018. "Does Clientelism Affect Income Inequality? Evidence from Panel Data," Journal of Income Distribution, Ad libros publications inc., vol. 26(1), pages 1-24, March.

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