Main drivers of income inequality in Central European and Baltic countries : Some insights from recent household survey data / / Salman Zaidi.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

Zaidi, Salman, 1967-

Contributor:

World Bank.

Series:

Policy research working papers ; 4815.

World Bank e-Library.

Policy research working paper ; 4815

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Income distribution--Baltic States.

Income distribution.

Income distribution--Europe, Central.

Other Title:

Main drivers of income inequality in Central European and Baltic countries

Policy research working paper vol. 4815

Place of Publication:

[Washington, D.C. : World Bank, 2009]

System Details:

data file

Summary:

"Present levels of income inequality in Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia remain considerably higher than their pre-transition levels, although the relative pace of change over time has varied quite a bit across countries. Using data from the 2006 European Union Survey of Income and Living Conditions, this paper finds that prevailing levels of income inequality in these countries continue to be low by international standards, and that this is in large part due to the very high redistributive impact of direct taxes and public transfers. In addition to the instrumental role of tax and transfer policies in redistributing income, the paper highlights the important role played by differences in education levels and labor market participation rates in explaining observed inequalities across people and across different regions (although not in explaining observed differences across countries). The paper includes an analysis of key factors that help explain observed variation across countries in the level of public support for redistribution, including peoples' economic background and relative success in life, whether they perceive poverty to be associated with factors within or outside the control of those it afflicts (for example, laziness/lack of willpower vs. injustice in society). "--World Bank web site.

Notes:

Title from PDF file as viewed on 5/8/2009.

Includes bibliographical references.

Publisher Number:

10.1596/1813-9450-4815