Wealth Gap Research Articles

Rethinking researcher-participant roles

Abstract Recent studies on language and migration have attempted to address the social injustices stemming from global disparities in wealth and opportunities. However, there’s a risk of researchers unintentionally reinforcing traditional power dynamics, positioning themselves in power while reducing participants to mere data sources. Focusing on migrants in precarious living conditions, whose migration is often a consequence of political and economic upheaval in the origin, this paper interrogates the role of researchers and the researched with respect to social justice perspectives. We argue that conducting research on, for, and with such vulnerable migrant populations requires a reflexive understanding of our own positions and decisions throughout our engagement with participants. We propose that this approach is most effectively executed if we treat participants as equal partners in knowledge generation and social action, guided by principles of care, empathy, and unconventional methodologies. Through this, we hope to advocate for migration linguistics that is truly fair, just, and empowering among migrants.

Tanya Maria Golash-Boza: Before Gentrification: The Creation of DC’s Racial Wealth Gap

Tanya Maria Golash-Boza: Before Gentrification: The Creation of DC’s Racial Wealth Gap

Ecosystem service research in the dry subtropics: Current state, temporal changes and drivers of regional variability

Dry subtropical (DST) regions that share similar climatic and topographic conditions exhibit today significant disparities in population density, agricultural intensity, wealth and cultural values. In addition, they are also facing increasing pressures on their natural resources. These attributes collectively shape individuals' varying dependence on natural resources and may influence their perception of ecosystem services (ES). In this study, we conducted a systematic literature review, focusing on the DST regions, to address two main questions: 1) What is the current state, temporal trends and regional variability in scientific research on ES and 2) What are the potential drivers of the variability in ES research? Amongst the 471 publications found in our review, 53% focused on provisioning services, followed nearly equally by cultural (33%) and regulating (30%) services. Only 13% addressed more than one ES category and approximately 33% mentioned economic valuation. Our study reveals that research on ES in the dry subtropics experienced a significant increase from 2005 onwards. Approximately 45% of the publications included the term 'ecosystem service' and its frequency has risen substantially over time. Most publications primarily focus on African dry subtropics (over 60%), followed by South and North American ones. Publications from southern Asia and NE Australia were more scarce. Importantly, we found no clear relationship between the number of publications, publication density or representativeness and the variables used as indicators of human pressure (e.g. population density). Consequently, research efforts in the DST regions appear to be influenced by a diverse range of financial and institutional constraints, international research agendas, as well as the personal interests of researchers, contributing to the idiosyncratic nature of this field.

Research on Evaluating and Regulating the Rapid Wealth Growth Rate of High Income Groups from the Perspective of Policy Literature

Social inequality is a complex and profound phenomenon, with diverse roots and manifestations. One significant aspect is the rapid growth of wealth among high-income groups, which widens the wealth gap compared to middle and low-income groups. This article explores the necessity and possible strategies to promote social equity; Improve social stability; Promote sustainable economic development; Enhance social cohesion; Starting from the necessity of preventing economic crises in these five aspects, possible strategies are proposed, mainly involving: adjusting tax policies; Wealth redistribution policy; Promote employment and educational opportunities; Legal and policy framework; Strategies such as promoting international cooperation. Through the above strategies, it is possible to effectively control the rapid growth of wealth among high-income groups, promote social equity and sustainable development.

Association of Socioeconomic Characteristics with Health and Well-Being of Rural Older Cambodians.

This study examined the demographic, socioeconomic, health, and well-being of rural-dwelling older Cambodians and identified differentials based on age and gender. The goal is to understand disparities in wealth, health, well-being, and support systems among older adults within the context of Cambodia's history of civil unrest and socio-cultural norms. A regionally representative sample from three northwestern Cambodian provinces was used to evaluate household wealth, economic satisfaction, health, psychological well-being, social support, and a government welfare program. Analysis was conducted to document how these factors differed by age and gender. Significant gender differentials in demographics, well-being, and support systems were observed. Older women outnumbered men and reported lower levels of social support and psychological well-being, potentially influenced by high widowhood rates and gender-linked cultural norms. Education levels were generally low, possibly due to disruption from wars and conflicts. Relative to neighboring countries, the health status of older Cambodians was poor, though no significant gender-based health disparities were identified. There were differences in debt and wealth accumulation among age groups but no variation in welfare support by age or gender. These findings underline the significance of addressing gender disparities and socio-cultural factors affecting older Cambodians. They underscore the need for policy attention toward older women's psychological well-being and support systems, as well as health and social support interventions for the oldest age groups. Future research should investigate these observed patterns, accounting for regional variations and survivor selection bias.

Global Inequality: Will The Inequality Among the Brics Nations Hinder Manoeuvring the Global Economy

The BRICS countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, including Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, and Saudi Arabia are emerging as key players in the global economy with significant economic growth and influence on the world stage. However, despite their economic strength, global inequality remains a pressing issue, with disparities in income, wealth, and development persisting around the BRICS bloc and the rest of the world. The BRICS countries are seen as a comforting alternative and emerging force that can play a significant role in addressing global inequality, applying collaboration to help find solutions for challenges facing the global South, and steering the global economy towards more inclusive and sustainable growth. They represent a diverse group of economies with a combined population of over 3 billion people and a significant share of the global GDP. By working together, the BRICS countries have the potential to leverage their collective strength and influence to drive positive change on a global scale. One of the key ways in which the BRICS nations can help address global inequality is through promoting inclusive economic growth and development. This includes investing in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social safety nets to ensure that all members of society have the opportunity to benefit from economic growth. The BRICS nations are also working together to address issues such as trade barriers, financial regulation, and infrastructure development to create a more level playing field for all countries. Additionally, the BRICS nations are investing efforts using their influence to advocate for reforms in global governance institutions such as the IMF, World Bank, and WTO to ensure that the interests of developing countries are better represented and that there is greater transparency and accountability in the global economic system. While this effort seems to be significant for the Global South, there are still many challenges that must be addressed to achieve more equal and inclusive global economic growth. However, it is expected that by working together and leveraging their collective strength, the BRICS nations have the potential to play a significant role in steering the global economy towards a more equitable and sustainable future. This paper examines perspectives on how the BRICS countries could succeed in steering the global economy. Various literature and research work of eminent experts were explored to understand better the influence of the BRICS countries in driving positive and dynamic change on a global scale, as well as efforts to address global inequality.

Beyond work: elite Black women’s tensions with middle-class status

ABSTRACT This article examines how elite Black women determine their class status in the era of wealth inequality. While previous literature focuses on labor to theorize Black middle-class power, homeownership, debt, and consumerism are meaningful amid the race and gender wealth gaps. This paper uses data from 24 interviews with Black, college-educated, married, homeowning women in a Southern state to explore the class attitudes and economic indicators participants use to claim middle-class status. These findings contribute to our understanding of how the Black middle-class navigates their economic privilege and precarity beyond employment and reveals tensions between the Black middle-class and Black elite.

Debt on the Ground: The Scholarly Discourse of Bankruptcy and Financial Precarity

A rich literature uses law and social science methods to better understand household financial distress and overindebtedness both inside and outside of bankruptcy. This scholarship contributes to several ongoing scholarly conversations, such as those on income and wealth disparities across race and class, how people live in circumstances of financial precarity, why people turn to the legal system to solve their problems, and how to improve access to justice so people can get the help they need. We first review the current literature about who files bankruptcy, the contributors to people's need to file bankruptcy, what happens to them in bankruptcy court, and what happens after their bankruptcy cases conclude. We then outline a research agenda of low-hanging fruit that will contribute to broader sociological and sociolegal research agendas, including economic mobility, aging, gender studies, health studies, family studies, social psychology, and policy work.

Racial disparities in debt collection

This paper documents that Black and Hispanic borrowers are 52% more likely to experience a debt collection judgment compared to their counterparts, controlling for socioeconomic variables including income, credit scores, delinquent debt balances, and other relevant credit characteristics. Statistical discrimination mechanisms such as spatially targeting collection efforts based on the likelihood that an attorney represents the defendant or that the defendant will contest the debt in court do not explain the racial gap in judgments. We find support that the judgment gap is partially driven by taste-based discrimination, as evidenced by minorities having less 90-day past due debt balances than non-minority borrowers when controlling for model covariates. Furthermore, the disparity primarily affects non-delinquent borrowers, indicating higher levels of creditor discretion in initiating judgment proceedings. A back-of-the-envelope calculation suggests that the racial wealth gap explains at most 48% of the racial disparity in judgments.

Exploring Public Interest in Profit-Sharing with Banks: A Study for adaption of Non-Interest banking in the Indian

Non-Interest Finance is a rising category of financial goods created to fulfill the needs of people all throughout the world, not a product that is inherently non-secular. The most important advantage of Islamic banking over traditional banking is its ability to boost cash-related transactions, which is necessary if India is to become a financial powerhouse in the near future. For Islamic banking, it is still a sizable and unfamiliar market. This study attempts to gain a deeper understanding of Indians' fervour for Islamic banking and their future possibilities. For this reason, a representative sample of the population is chosen and evaluated with the aid of a planned survey conducted. Applying the appropriate statistical techniques allows for the analysis of the data collected. Significant findings are reached and the appropriate inferences are drawn. This analysis will help us determine the likelihood and acceptability of a banking system without interest in India. Given that the benefits and possibilities much outweigh any drawbacks or difficulties, India should open its doors to Islamic banking. Islamic banking is another alternate type of banking that might increase commercial centre efficiency via innovation and competition. It helps to bridge India's expanding wealth gap.

Student Debt Relief and Racial Wealth Gaps

The Biden-Harris Administration released a plan to cancel federal student loans for 43 million borrowers on August 24, 2022. While the Supreme Court struck down the Biden-Harris student debt relief plan on June 30, 2023, the White House is now planning to use the Higher Education Act of 1965, a federal law that governs the student loan program, to bring about relief for student borrowers. This article estimates the potential impact of broad-based student debt relief on racial and ethnic wealth gaps. On average, federal student debt potentially eligible for relief explains 3 percent of the White-Black wealth gaps, suggesting that broad-based student debt relief could significantly mitigate racial wealth inequities.

Analytic Approaches to Measuring the Black-White Wealth Gap

Does the measurement of the racial wealth gap shift depending on the model, method, and dataset used? We contrast the traditional mean Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition with the distributional Recentered Influence Function (RIF) methods. The untransformed, logarithm-transformed, and inverse hyperbolic sine-transformed versions in both the Survey of Consumer Finances and Panel Study of Income Dynamics datasets exhibit similarities. The Oaxaca-Blinder (mean) decomposition highlights that receiving an inheritance explains a larger portion of the racial wealth gap than educational attainment. Conversely, the RIF method at the median suggests that educational attainment accounts for more of the wealth gap than inheritance receipt.

Setting the Record Straight on Racial Wealth Inequality

The racial wealth gap in the United States is the object of much misrepresentation and misunderstanding. Our paper is intended to provide a corrective. We will address how the mainstream economic view of the drivers of racial disparities in wealth is a human capital view that promotes anti-Black and personal responsibility narratives while ignoring the significance of the racially uneven transmission of resources across generations. It also fails to acknowledge the cumulative impact of US racial history on present wealth gaps.

Wealth Disparities in End-of-Life Experiences Among Older Adults in the US (RP306)

Wealth Disparities in End-of-Life Experiences Among Older Adults in the US (RP306)

Monetary policy and wealth inequality

AbstractThis thesis examines how monetary policy shocks affect wealth inequality in Australia. I analyse how a monetary policy shock, through asset price responses, affects household balance sheets and wealth inequality measures. I find that contractionary monetary policy reduces the wealth gap, but also disproportionately increases the wealth share of the most affluent Australians. This is driven largely by the response of house prices to an increase in the central bank's policy rate. I use a novel methodology to overcome the data limitations that usually impede studies of wealth inequality, and I produce results with implications for central bankers and policymakers. My results are robust to numerous lag specifications, modelling techniques and identification strategies.

American Indian Wealth in the Early Twentieth Century

We use data from the Bureau of Indian Affairs annual reports between 1912 and 1927 to examine the wealth of Indigenous nations in the contiguous United States during the early twentieth century. Our estimates reveal considerable heterogeneity in wealth holdings across Indigenous nations. In 1912, the average real per capita wealth of Indigenous nations was high relative to other groups, but it declined systematically throughout the period of our study. Given the available contemporary evidence, our estimates imply a dramatic widening of the wealth gap over the last century.

Intra-urban house prices in Madrid following the financial crisis: an exploration of spatial inequality

In this paper we explore the temporal dynamics of spatial inequality in housing prices for Madrid, the capital city of Spain. Spatial inequalities are a concerning feature of urban areas across the globe. It has been suggested that within cities housing prices are becoming more geographically unequal over time, particularly since the 2008 housing market crash. However, more evidence is needed at the intra-urban level to understand neighbourhood house price differences in large urban areas. Changes are analysed during a key period of the housing market bust (2010–2015) and boom (2016–2019), using data from a major housing listing portal. Fine grain space-time analysis of the distribution of housing prices supports an increase in spatial inequality and polarisation at the neighbourhood level. Two spatially differentiated housing sub-markets of high- and low-priced housing are identified. The persistence and growth of spatial house price inequality has important societal implications for the wealth gap and segregation of rich and poor in cities.

South Africa: Wealth Gap, Employment Imbalance, and Education Inequality in South Africa

This study uses changes in education and work between men and women to estimate the impact of gender inequality on the wealth gap in South Africa. Although the low enrollment rate of males in primary education continues to occur, social factors of gender inequality led to higher graduation rates and unemployment rates for females than for males, even though they have higher enrollment rates. These findings prove that gender inequality in society leads to job and income imbalances. for this paper, the innovation lies in the logical analysis of the three factors together, rather than the research on the influence of one element. Interestingly, even with the promotion of women's rights in South African society, gender bias has been affecting people's behaviour and subconsciousness at work, making people ignore that South African women have higher learning and skilled workability, which can improve the social economy more than men.

The Justifiability of Billionaires on Socio-Economic Grounds

This essay explores the complex socio-economic and political implications of the presence of billionaires, guided by the paradoxical views on their impact on society. It critically analyzes the potential benefits and drawbacks of banning billionaires, using diverse examples and evidence to illustrate points. The essay begins by discussing the significant role of billionaire philanthropy in healthcare and education, highlighting how their wealth enables substantial contributions that fill gaps left by government welfare programs. It also covers the positive effects of billionaire investments in economic growth, job creation, and reducing educational disparities, arguing that these contributions can help alleviate class conflicts and complement inadequate government welfare programs. Conversely, the essay examines the negative aspects of billionaire influence, including tax evasion, widening wealth gaps, and the potential for fostering crony capitalism. It argues that while the presence of billionaires can lead to improved tax compliance and economic stability, their ability to evade taxes and accumulate wealth exacerbates income inequality and undermines democratic principles. Furthermore, the essay touches on the role of billionaires in bridging international relations, using the example of Elon Musk's visit to China as a case where billionaire involvement has eased geopolitical tensions. Overall, the essay posits that while banning billionaires might mitigate certain societal and economic inequalities, their contributions in terms of philanthropy, investment, and political influence generally outweigh the negatives. It suggests that the presence of billionaires is a double-edged sword, presenting both challenges and opportunities for society.

The Relationship Between Wealth Disparity and the Sex Ratio at Birth

The Relationship Between Wealth Disparity and the Sex Ratio at Birth