Abstract
In this paper we quantify inequality of opportunity in labor market outcomes in Europe and Central Asia using the Human Opportunity Index (HOI) methodology. Using data from the 2006 Life in Transition Survey we also compare HOI-based measures of inequality with expenditure-based measures and examine the extent to which these measures resonate with perceptions of life satisfaction and fairness. Findings show substantial inequality of opportunity in employment status and large variations across countries. Correlations between measures and perceptions of inequality suggest that inequality between groups as opposed to overall inequality has stronger association with perceptions of fairness in society. O11, O12
Highlights
The issue of inequality currently dominates the discourse on political economy across the world
Results we present our first set of results from the application of the Human Opportunity Index (HOI) methodology to labor market outcomes in countries in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region
This is the first attempt to compute inequality of opportunity in labor markets in a discrete setting
Summary
The issue of inequality currently dominates the discourse on political economy across the world. It is estimated that over a third of all countries in the world experienced some form of social and political strife in the last one year. The idea that the playing field should be leveled and everybody should at least have a fair shot at becoming “successful” by any metric society deems appropriate usually has universal appeal. This concept of the equality of opportunity can have a lot of policy traction, but requires a measure or a set of measures that can provide a practical way of tracking a country or society’s progress towards equalizing opportunities for all
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