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Inequality, Growth and Welfare: An International Comparison

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  • Jesús Ruiz-Huerta
  • Luis Ayala
  • Rosa Martinez

Abstract

This study offers will try to present some empirical evidence in an attempt to improve our understanding of welfare. After reviewing the empirical criteria used to measure welfare in comparative contexts and explaining our methodology (section 2), section 3 deals with major trends in some OECD countries. In section 4, the effects on welfare of the distribution of economic growth by income levels are analyzed using real income changes at three different points of the distribution scale. A cross-national comparison of the absolute income levels of the low, median and high-income households in every country is carried out in section 5. Finally, in the last part of the paper, our attention is focused on a synthetic measure of welfare based on the notion of combining average income and inequality in some kind of two-dimensional welfare index.

Suggested Citation

  • Jesús Ruiz-Huerta & Luis Ayala & Rosa Martinez, 1999. "Inequality, Growth and Welfare: An International Comparison," LIS Working papers 215, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    • Handle: RePEc:lis:liswps:215
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Timothy Smeeding & Gunther Schmaus & Brigitte Buhmann & Lee Rainwater, 1988. "Equivalence Scales, Well-Being, Inequality and Poverty: Sensitivity Estimates Across Ten Countries Using the LIS Database," LIS Working papers 17, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    2. repec:bla:revinw:v:39:y:1993:i:3:p:229-56 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Brigitte Buhmann & Lee Rainwater & Guenther Schmaus & Timothy M. Smeeding, 1988. "Equivalence Scales, Well‐Being, Inequality, And Poverty: Sensitivity Estimates Across Ten Countries Using The Luxembourg Income Study (Lis) Database," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 34(2), pages 115-142, June.
    4. Atkinson, Anthony B., 1970. "On the measurement of inequality," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 2(3), pages 244-263, September.
    5. Coulter, Fiona A E & Cowell, Frank A & Jenkins, Stephen P, 1992. "Equivalence Scale Relativities and the Extent of Inequality and Poverty," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 102(414), pages 1067-1082, September.
    6. repec:bla:revinw:v:34:y:1988:i:2:p:115-42 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Javier Ruiz-Castillo, 1995. "Income distribution and social welfare: a review essay," Investigaciones Economicas, Fundación SEPI, vol. 19(1), pages 3-34, January.
    8. Daniel T. Slesnick, 1998. "Empirical Approaches to the Measurement of Welfare," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 36(4), pages 2108-2165, December.
    9. Cowell, Frank & Litchfield, Julie & Mercader-Prats, Magda, 1999. "Income inequality comparisons with dirty data: the UK and Spain during the 1980s," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 2240, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
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    Cited by:

    1. Eric G. Moore & Michael A. Pacey, 2002. "Changing Income Inequality and Immigration in Canada 1980-1995," Social and Economic Dimensions of an Aging Population Research Papers 85, McMaster University.
    2. Miguel Viegas & Ana Paula Ribeiro, 2011. "Welfare-improving Government Behaviour and Inequality - Inspection Using a Heterogeneous-agent Model," CEF.UP Working Papers 1103, Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Economia do Porto.
    3. Thesia I. Garner & Javier Ruiz‐Castillo & Mercedes Sastre, 2003. "The Influence of Demographics and Household‐Specific Price Indices on Consumption‐Based Inequality and Welfare: A Comparison of Spain and the United States," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 70(1), pages 22-48, July.
    4. Caminada, Koen & Goudswaard, Kees, 1999. "Social policy and income distribution: An empirical analysis for the Netherlands," MPRA Paper 20183, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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