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Ethnic and Religious Diversity and Income Inequality

Author

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  • Oguzhan C Dincer

    (Department of Economics, Illinois State University, Campus Box 4200, Normal, IL 61790, USA. E-mails: odincer@ilstu.edu; hotard@gmail.com)

  • Michael J Hotard

    (Department of Economics, Illinois State University, Campus Box 4200, Normal, IL 61790, USA. E-mails: odincer@ilstu.edu; hotard@gmail.com)

Abstract

Using cross-country data, we explore the relationship between ethnic and religious diversity and income inequality. For 58 countries spanning a 10-year period, we find a positive relationship between ethnic and religious polarization and income inequality and an inverse U-shaped relationship between ethnic and religious fractionalization and income inequality. According to our estimations (i) going from an ethnic (religious) polarization index of 0, to an ethnic (religious) polarization index of 1 would increase the Gini coefficient by almost 6 (respectively, 3) percentage points; and (ii) the Gini coefficient would be maximized when the ethnic (religious) fractionalization index is equal to 0.44 (respectively, 0.34). Implications are considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Oguzhan C Dincer & Michael J Hotard, 2011. "Ethnic and Religious Diversity and Income Inequality," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 37(3), pages 417-430.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:easeco:v:37:y:2011:i:3:p:417-430
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Kazeem B. Ajide & Olorunfemi Y. Alimi & Simplice A. Asongu, 2019. "Ethnic Diversity and Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa: Do Institutions Reduce the Noise?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 145(3), pages 1033-1062, October.
    2. Bello K. Ajide, 2020. "Fragmentation and financial development in Sub-Saharan Africa Countries: the case of diversity debit versus diversity dividend theses," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 53(3), pages 379-428, August.
    3. Ackermann, Klaus & Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Smyth, Russell, 2024. "Estimating the relationship between ethnic inequality, conflict and voter turnout in Africa using geocoded data," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).

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