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EDUCATION AND INCOME INEQUALITY IN THE REGIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION *
Author(s) -
RodríguezPose Andrés,
Tselios Vassilis
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of regional science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.171
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1467-9787
pISSN - 0022-4146
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9787.2008.00602.x
Subject(s) - economics , income inequality metrics , economic inequality , income distribution , human capital , demographic economics , labour economics , population , inequality , european union , distribution (mathematics) , per capita income , total personal income , social inequality , panel data , unemployment , gross income , economic growth , public economics , econometrics , mathematical analysis , demography , mathematics , sociology , economic policy , tax reform , state income tax
This paper provides an empirical study of the determinants of income inequality across regions of the EU. Using the European Community Household Panel dataset for 102 regions over the period 1995–2000, it analyses how microeconomic changes in human capital distribution affect income inequality for the population as a whole and for normally working people. The different static and dynamic panel data analyses conducted reveal that the relationship between income per capita and income inequality, as well as between a good human capital endowment and income inequality is positive. High levels of inequality in educational attainment are also associated with higher income inequality. The above results are robust to changes in the definition of income distribution and may be interpreted as a sign of the responsiveness of the EU labor market to differences in qualifications and skills. Other results indicate that population ageing, female participation in the labor force, urbanization, agriculture, and industry are negatively associated to income inequality, while unemployment and the presence of a strong financial sector positively affect inequality. Finally, income inequality is lower in social‐democratic welfare states, in Protestant areas, and in regions with Nordic family structures.