Abstract

The Income Inequality refers to the unequal distribution of family or individual wealth among the inhabitants of a particular economy. It is often determined by the percentage of income to a percentage of population. Like 50% of Pakistan’s income is controlled by the highest 20% population. It is generally thought of as “unjust," if the major share of a country’s income goes to the rich. Many researches have been done to find the level of Income Inequality in Pakistan, but these researches are not comparable because of differences in techniques, selection of welfare determinant, choice of data (individual or family incomes) and difference in indices for inequality measurement. It is also observed that two studies give contradictory results for the same period. This research tries to fill the gap by measuringthe impact of education on unequal distribution of income in Pakistan. The study uses Gini Coefficient method to measure Income Inequality in Pakistan by taking data available at the websites of PSLM (Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey), HIES (Household Income and Expenditure Survey) and MDG’s (Pakistan Millennium Development Goals).This This paper tries to determine the effects of various components of education on Income Inequality. Progress in education is judged by assessing three indicators: Primary Enrolment Rate, Completion Rate (grades 1-5) and Adult Literacy Rate. In this research, we define Adult Literacy Rate as Tertiary Rate as it includes population of ages 15 years and older. The pooled cross sectionaldata considered in this study is for the periods 2004/05, 2007/08 and 2010/11 The results of regression are as expected, which shows an unambiguously negative association between Primary Enrolment Rate andIncome inequality, however, as concluded by Barro (1996), it is validated that inequality increases with higher education. Therefore, an increase in schooling helps distributes income justifiably.

Highlights

  • The distribution of wealth plays an important role in determining the economic development of a country, as it has been broadly accepted that the concentration of income into the hands of a few, results in social tensions

  • The study uses Gini Coefficient method to measure Income Inequality in Pakistan by taking data available at the websites of PSLM (Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey), HIES (Household Income and Expenditure Survey) and MDG’s (Pakistan Millennium Development Goals).This This paper tries to determine the effects of various components of education on Income Inequality

  • If the economic growth is high but distribution of income is unequal, it may still contribute in increasing the level of poverty in a country as it happened in Pakistan in the 1960s

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Summary

Introduction

The distribution of wealth plays an important role in determining the economic development of a country, as it has been broadly accepted that the concentration of income into the hands of a few, results in social tensions. If the economic growth is high but distribution of income is unequal, it may still contribute in increasing the level of poverty in a country as it happened in Pakistan in the 1960s. Shifting of resources from the primary sector to the tertiary sector has been observed, moving the poor further above the poverty level Another reason is the regressive type of tax system in our country, which is benefiting the rich, who enjoy huge incomes. Many researchers have contributed in the findings of unequal distribution of income in Pakistan by taking last forty years data into consideration These researches are not comparable because of differences in techniques, selection of welfare determinant, choice of data (individual or family incomes) and difference in indices for inequality measurement. His results suggest that income inequalities in Pakistan have been rising since 1990s and the same pattern continues in the current decade

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