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Earnings Inequality in Australia: Changes and Causes

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  • Jeff Borland

    (Australian National University)

Abstract

This paper reviews research which has examined recent developments in earnings inequality in Australia. Three main issues are addressed. First, what have been the dimension and timing of changes in earnings inequality which have occurred? Second, how have earnings differentials between workers in different age groups and with different levels of educational attainment changed, and to what extent can those changes be explained by shifts in the relative demand for labour and relative supply of labour by level of skill? Third, what do we know about the causes of changes in earnings inequality?

Suggested Citation

  • Jeff Borland, 1996. "Earnings Inequality in Australia: Changes and Causes," Canadian International Labour Network Working Papers 05, McMaster University.
    • Handle: RePEc:mcm:cilnwp:05
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    File URL: http://socserv.mcmaster.ca/econ/rsrch/papers/CILN/cilnwp05.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jeff Borland, 1996. "Education and the Structure of Earnings in Australia," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 72(219), pages 370-380, December.
    2. Steven J. Davis, 1992. "Cross-Country Patterns of Change in Relative Wages," NBER Chapters, in: NBER Macroeconomics Annual 1992, Volume 7, pages 239-300, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Jeff Borland & Roger Wilkins, 1996. "Earnings Inequality in Australia," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 72(216), pages 7-23, March.
    4. Katharine G. Abraham & Susan Houseman, 1995. "Earnings Inequality in Germany," NBER Chapters, in: Differences and Changes in Wage Structures, pages 371-404, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Griliches, Zvi, 1969. "Capital-Skill Complementarity," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 51(4), pages 465-468, November.
    6. Peter Saunders, 1993. "Married Women's Earnings and Family Income Inequality in the Eighties," Discussion Papers 0040, University of New South Wales, Social Policy Research Centre.
    7. Keith Norris, 1977. "The Dispersion of Earnings in Australia," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 53(4), pages 475-489, December.
    8. repec:bla:ecorec:v:0:y:1991:i:0:p:41-52 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Peter Saunders, 1992. "Poverty, Inequality And Recession," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 11(3), pages 1-22, September.
    10. Peter Saunders, 1995. "Unpacking Inequality: Wage Incomes, Disposable Incomes and Living Standards," Discussion Papers 0063, University of New South Wales, Social Policy Research Centre.
    11. Levy, Frank & Murnane, Richard J, 1992. "U.S. Earnings Levels and Earnings Inequality: A Review of Recent Trends and Proposed Explanations," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 30(3), pages 1333-1381, September.
    12. Lawrence F. Katz & Gary W. Loveman & David G. Blanchflower, 1993. "A Comparison of Changes in the Structure of Wages," NBER Working Papers 4297, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    13. repec:bla:ecorec:v:0:y:1991:i:0:p:20-40 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Juhn, Chinhui & Murphy, Kevin M & Pierce, Brooks, 1993. "Wage Inequality and the Rise in Returns to Skill," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 101(3), pages 410-442, June.
    15. repec:bla:ecorec:v:53:y:1977:i:144:p:475-89 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.

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