The Distribution of Income Across National-Populations: Testing Multiple Paradigms

Abstract

In response to recent challenges to modernization theory, this research models variables suggested by three major theories that provide explanations of income distribution across nations: Modernization theory, dependency/world-systems theory, and ecological-evolutionary theory. A base modernization model containing energy consumption per capita, adult literacy, and secondary school enrollment ratios (all circa 1965/1970) is tested against alternative specifications that include the social organization of rural areas, political democracy, export dependency, land inequality, and foreign capital penetration. Strongest support is found for modernization and ecological-evolutionary theories, while the patterns of support for political redistribution and dependency/world-systems theory are more mixed. We conclude that singular claims of theoretical dominance are unwarranted and should be replaced by emphasis on how theories provide complimentary explanations.