Clemen i, Fabio
A icle
Income dis ibu ion, inequali y and po e y: E idence,
explana ions and policies
Economies
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MDPI – Mul idisciplina y Digi al Publishing Ins i u e, Basel
Sugges ed Ci a ion: Clemen i, Fabio (2024) : Income dis ibu ion, inequali y and po e y: E idence,
explana ions and policies, Economies, ISSN 2227-7099, MDPI, Basel, Vol. 12, Iss. 10, pp. 1-4,
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Ci a ion: Clemen i, Fabio. 2024.
Income Dis ibu ion, Inequali y and
Po e y: E idence, Explana ions and
Policies. Economies 12: 276. h ps://
doi.o g/10.3390/economies12100276
Recei ed: 9 Oc obe 2024
Accep ed: 10 Oc obe 2024
Published: 14 Oc obe 2024
Copy igh : © 2024 by he au ho .
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economies
Edi o ial
Income Dis ibu ion, Inequali y and Po e y: E idence,
Explana ions and Policies
Fabio Clemen i
Depa men o Poli ical Science, Communica ion and In e na ional Rela ions, Uni e si y o Mace a a,
Via Don Minzoni 22/A, 62100 Mace a a, I aly; [email p o ec ed]; Tel.: +39-0733-258-2560
In ecen yea s, he e has been an inc easing ocus on he complex challenges posed
by income inequali y and po e y, bo h in de eloped and de eloping na ions. These issues
ha e cap u ed he a en ion o economis s, policymake s, and go e nmen ins i u ions,
due o hei g owing signi icance. Despi e he implemen a ion o a ious ini ia i es aimed
a add essing po e y and inequali y, such as he Eu ope 2020 S a egy and he Uni ed
Na ions’ 2030 Agenda o Sus ainable De elopmen , p og ess has been limi ed. This can
be a ibu ed o a ange o ac o s, including signi ican global e en s such as he G ea
Recession, he COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing con lic s such as he wa s in Uk aine and
Gaza, which ha e exace ba ed po e y and inequali y on a global scale.
The a icles p esen ed in his Special Issue o Economies, en i led “Income Dis ibu-
ion, Inequali y and Po e y: E idence, Explana ions and Policies”, o e a comp ehensi e
explo a ion o income inequali y and po e y, shedding ligh on hei complex d i e s
ac oss a ious global con ex s. These s udies del e in o a wide ange o ac o s, om
ene gy c ises and go e nmen policies o he impac s o inancial ins abili y and global pan-
demics, highligh ing he pe sis en and e ol ing na u e o inequali y and po e y in bo h
de eloped and de eloping na ions. Using di e se me hodologies—including econome ic
models, end analyses, and compa a i e c oss-coun y s udies— he con ibu ions p o ide
a nuanced unde s anding o how s uc u al o ces such as educa ion, labo dynamics, and
ma ke iza ion in e ac o shape income dis ibu ion and social p og ess.
Se e al a icles ocus on speci ic egions, highligh ing he unique challenges hey ace
in add essing inequali y. Fo example, Pakis an and Sou h A ica a e examined h ough he
lenses o ene gy a i s and social g an s, espec i ely, while Cen al and Eas e n Eu opean
coun ies a e analyzed in e ms o he ole o EU cohesion policies and labo ma ke e o ms.
These s udies collec i ely poin o he impo ance o a ge ed policy in e en ions and
long- e m s a egies o mi iga e inequali y, wi h a pa icula emphasis on public in es men
in educa ion, social sa e y ne s, and labo ma ke e o ms.
O he con ibu ions ake a b oade , global pe spec i e, such as he s udy on in e gen-
e a ional educa ional mobili y ac oss 82 coun ies, o he analysis o income pola iza ion
in Eu ope. These pape s emphasize he complex in e play be ween economic g ow h,
go e nance, and social policies, while also ecognizing he ole o his o ical and s uc u al
ac o s in shaping inequali y ends. Collec i ely, he a icles in his issue o e aluable
insigh s o policymake s, esea che s, and p ac i ione s seeking o unde s and and add ess
he deep-sea ed inequali ies ha pe sis ac oss egions and sec o s.
The Special Issue b ings oge he 11 o iginal a icles ha del e in o a ious dimensions
o inequali y and po e y ac oss di e en egions and ime pe iods. A ho ough summa y
o he key indings and insigh s om each con ibu ion is p o ided o guide eade s in
iden i ying he a icles mos ele an o hei in e es s. Fu he de ails on each indi idual
pape can be ound in he Lis o Con ibu ions.
Con ibu ion 1 in es iga es how ene gy c ises in Pakis an ha e deepened income
inequali y om 1997 o 2021. D awing on Pike y’s hypo hesis, he s udy e eals ha
lowe -income g oups a e disp opo iona ely a ec ed, as hey spend a la ge po ion o
hei income on ene gy compa ed o weal hie segmen s o he popula ion. This inequali y
Economies 2024,12, 276. h ps://doi.o g/10.3390/economies12100276 h ps://www.mdpi.com/jou nal/economies
Economies 2024,12, 276 2 o 4
is pa icula ly p onounced in u al a eas, and he pape calls o ene gy a i e o ms and
social sa e y p og ams o mi iga e hese dispa i ies.
Con ibu ion 2 explo es income inequali y in Sou h A ica be ween 1975 and 2017,
using a Vec o E o Co ec ion Model. The s udy inds ha inc eased go e nmen spending
on social g an s helps educe inequali y, while ac o s such as g oss sa ings and popula ion
g ow h con ibu e o wo sening i . Economic g ow h’s e ec on inequali y is mo e complex,
p esen ing mixed esul s. The au ho s ecommend policies aimed a expanding social
g an s and os e ing a cul u e o sa ings, while also add essing he challenges posed by
popula ion g ow h.
Con ibu ion 3 shi s ocus o he UK, analyzing when and why inequali y has become
a key opic in public discussions om 2004 o 2023. Using Google T ends da a, he s udy
shows ha conce n abou inequali y peaks du ing pa liamen a y elec ions and pe iods o
economic ins abili y, such as ecessions. These discussions a e o en ied mo e o issues o
ai ness han o conce ns abou c ime o wa , pa icula ly du ing pe iods o in la ion o
luc ua ions in GDP.
Con ibu ion 4 akes a global pe spec i e, examining how educa ional a ainmen
is ansmi ed ac oss gene a ions in 82 coun ies. The s udy iden i ies ac o s such as
public spending on educa ion, income inequali y, and u baniza ion as key in luences on
educa ional mobili y. Using clus e analysis, coun ies a e ca ego ized by hei le els o
educa ional mobili y and economic de elopmen , wi h he au ho highligh ing he impo -
ance o public in es men in educa ion o os e ing equali y o oppo uni y, pa icula ly
in middle- and high-income na ions.
In Con ibu ion 5, he au ho s in es iga e how he 2008 inancial c isis impac ed well-
being ac oss Eu opean coun ies o e he ollowing decade. Using P incipal Componen
Analysis, hey assess changes in mul iple dimensions, such as po e y isk, ma e ial
dep i a ion, and labo ma ke condi ions. The s udy e eals ha di e en clus e s o
coun ies expe ienced a ied impac s, wi h labo ma ke issues becoming a dominan
ac o in he decline o well-being, especially in Sou he n and Eas e n Eu ope.
Con ibu ion 6 examines he e ec s o ma ke iza ion, labo dynamics, and economic
s uc u es on income inequali y in Cen al and Eas e n Eu opean coun ies. The s udy
highligh s he oles o economic g ow h, educa ion in es men , labo ma ke e o ms, glob-
aliza ion, and go e nance in shaping income dis ibu ion. I sugges s ha a ge ed policies
in hese a eas can help educe inequali y, e en in he con ex o ma ke -d i en economies.
Con ibu ion 7 assesses he impac o EU cohesion policies on economic g ow h and
social p og ess in Cen al and Eas e n Eu ope. The indings sugges ha EU cohesion poli-
cies ha e a posi i e e ec on bo h economic pe o mance and social ou comes, pa icula ly
by educing income inequali y and po e y. Howe e , he economic bene i s ake ime
o ma e ialize, unde sco ing he impo ance o a long- e m s a egy o maximizing he
e ec i eness o hese policies.
In Con ibu ion 8, he au ho s explo e he ela ionship be ween gende equali y in
manage ial posi ions and wages ac oss 22 Eu opean coun ies. D awing on da a om
he Eu opean S uc u e o Ea nings Su ey, he s udy shows ha while gende equali y
in managemen has mixed e ec s on wages—posi i e in he uppe pa s o he wage
dis ibu ion, bu nega i e in he middle and lowe pa s—i ends o educe he o e all
gende wage gap, especially in he middle and lowe segmen s.
Con ibu ion 9 ocuses on income pola iza ion in 12 Eu opean coun ies om he
ea ly 2000s o he la e 2010s. Using he ela i e dis ibu ion me hod, he s udy inds
an inc easing end in pola iza ion, pa icula ly in he lowe income segmen s. Fac o s
such as occupa ional sec o , educa ion le el, and a ea o esidence a e key d i e s o his
phenomenon. The s udy sugges s ha coo dina ed policy in e en ions could help mi iga e
he e ec s o pola iza ion ac oss Eu ope.
Con ibu ion 10 in es iga es he ela ionship be ween wage inequali y and ope a ing
e enues in mo e han 5000 No wegian en e p ises om 2008 o 2014. The s udy inds
ha wage inequali y can nega i ely impac ope a ing e enues, as lowe wages o many
Economies 2024,12, 276 3 o 4
employees end o educe mo i a ion and p oduc i i y. Con e sely, declining e enues a e
shown o inc ease wage inequali y, wi h he lowes ea ne s expe iencing he la ges ela i e
educ ions in pay. The au ho s a gue ha a mo e equi able wage dis ibu ion could bene i
en e p ise pe o mance.
Finally, Con ibu ion 11 examines he impac o bo h he 2007–2009 inancial c isis and
he COVID-19 pandemic on income inequali y and po e y in G eece. The s udy inds
ha bo h c ises exace ba ed inequali y, wi h economically disad an aged g oups su e ing
he mos . Unemploymen and limi ed go e nmen edis ibu ion played key oles in
wo sening po e y and inequali y du ing hese pe iods. Al hough p e-elec ion pe iods saw
empo a y educ ions in inequali y, hese e ec s we e sho -li ed, and p ima ily bene i ed
middle-income g oups.
The con ibu ions in his Special Issue o e a aluable ounda ion o unde s anding
he key d i e s o inequali y and po e y ac oss di e se egions and con ex s. Howe e ,
he e emain se e al a eas ha in i e u he explo a ion and could signi ican ly en ich he
cu en discou se on inequali y. One such a ea is he impac o clima e change which, while
b ie ly ouched upon h ough ene gy c ises, me i s deepe in es iga ion. Unde s anding
how clima e- ela ed challenges disp opo iona ely a ec ulne able communi ies, pa icu-
la ly in e ms o esou ce sca ci y and o ced mig a ion, could p o ide
impo an insigh s.
Addi ionally, he ole o echnological ad ancemen s, such as digi aliza ion, au oma-
ion, and a i icial in elligence, p esen s an eme ging ield o s udy. These de elopmen s
a e apidly ans o ming labo ma ke s, and explo ing hei e ec s on income dis ibu ion
and employmen oppo uni ies, especially o hose wi h less adap able skills, would be a
aluable con ibu ion o he unde s anding o inequali y.
Heal h inequali y, ano he c ucial de e minan o economic well-being and social
mobili y, also dese es u he esea ch. The ways in which dispa i ies in heal hca e access
in e sec wi h income inequali y, pa icula ly du ing c ises such as he COVID-19 pandemic,
ep esen an a ea ha could signi ican ly enhance he discussions p esen ed in his issue.
While gende wage inequali y is add essed in he cu en collec ion, a deepe examina-
ion o he b oade impac s o inequali y on o he ma ginalized g oups, such as indi iduals
wi h disabili ies o e hnic mino i ies, would add o he unde s anding o he mul iple
ba ie s hese g oups ace. Explo ing how hese in e sec ing iden i ies in luence access o
educa ion, employmen , and social se ices could p o ide a mo e comp ehensi e iew
o inequali y.
Fu he mo e, ex ending he ocus om income inequali y o weal h inequali y would
o e a mo e nuanced pe spec i e on socioeconomic dispa i ies. Weal h dis ibu ion, which
includes asse s such as p ope y and s ocks, is o en mo e concen a ed han income and
can ha e las ing e ec s on social mobili y.
Finally, he dynamics o global mig a ion, pa icula ly he expe iences o ulne able
and undocumen ed mig an s, o e ano he p omising a enue o esea ch. Unde s anding
how mig a ion lows impac inequali y in bo h sending and ecei ing coun ies could yield
aluable insigh s o policymake s and schola s alike.
In addi ion o explo ing hese hema ic a eas, mo e ocused s udies on he measu e-
men o dis ibu i e phenomena, such as inequali y, po e y, and pola iza ion, a e essen ial
o ad ancing his ield. While a ious app oaches ha e been used o assess hese issues, e-
ining he me hodologies and me ics o cap u ing he complexi y and luidi y o inequali y
and po e y could lead o mo e accu a e and comp ehensi e analyses. Imp o ed mea-
su emen ools would also help in unde s anding he e ol ing na u e o hese phenomena,
p o iding s onge empi ical ounda ions o policy in e en ions.
By expanding esea ch in o hese a eas and e ining he ools o measu ing inequali y,
po e y, and pola iza ion, we can de elop a mo e holis ic unde s anding o he global
o ces d i ing inequali y and po e y. These addi ional lines o inqui y would complemen
he indings in his Special Issue, con ibu ing o he de elopmen o mo e a ge ed and
e ec i e policy solu ions.
Economies 2024,12, 276 4 o 4
I would like o exp ess my since e g a i ude o all he con ibu ing au ho s o hei
excep ional e o s in mee ing he jou nal’s s anda ds. The success o his Special Issue
in a ac ing a subs an ial numbe o con ibu ions ea i ms he po en ial o open access
publishing in ou ield. I am since ely hank ul o he nume ous e iewe s whose in aluable
eedback has g ea ly enhanced he quali y o he published pape s. Finally, I would like o
ex end my deep app ecia ion o he eam o assis an edi o s, especially Ms. Ado e Zhou,
o hei ou s anding suppo .
Funding: This esea ch ecei ed no ex e nal unding.
Con lic s o In e es : The au ho decla es no con lic s o in e es .
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