High Levels Of Inequality Research Articles

The influence of corporate entrepreneurship strategy on SMEs’ internationalization: proposing and testing a model

Purpose This paper aims to propose and test a corporate entrepreneurship strategy (CES) model in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with international activity located in Andalusia (Spain) – a peripheral region with high levels of inequality in the European Union (EU). Design/methodology/approach A quantitative analysis has been carried out with data from 101 SMEs to contrast and analyze the proposed CES model. The sample data were obtained through questionnaire-guided interviews with chief executive officers. Data processing has been done using partial least squares-path modeling, a variance-based technique for structural equation modeling. Findings The results of this study show the positive effect of environmental conditions on the development of CES actions in Andalusian SMEs (Spain) and the positive influence of CES on the results of SMEs’ international activity. In turn, environmental conditions do not directly affect the international activity. Originality/value Although previous works address the relationship between corporate entrepreneurship (CE) and international enterprise activity, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work is original in testing a CES model (including CE and the entrepreneurial strategic vision) in SMEs in a region that has one of the lowest levels of development in the EU. The results have important implications for SMEs and policymakers and could be extrapolated to other emerging economies.

Analysis of Regional Development Inequality in The District / City of Central Sulawesi Province in 2018-2022

Development inequality is an important issue that affects the society and economic stability of a region. This study aims to analyze regional development inequality in the districts/cities of Central Sulawesi Province during the 2018-2022 period. The analysis used is quantitative descriptive analysis using secondary data and the Williamson Index analysis method as a measuring tool to assess the level of inequality between regions. The data analyzed included Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) in each district/city of Central Sulawesi Province. The results showed that the Williamson index calculation of the level of regional development inequality in Central Sulawesi Province was 0,97, which indicated a high level of inequality. However, in 2022 there was a decrease in the Williamson Index to 0,46. Nevertheless, the level of inequality between districts/municipalities in Central Sulawesi Province is still categorized as high. This decrease in the Williamson Index indicates an improvement in the distribution of development, but more intensive efforts are still needed to achieve a more effective development balance from the local and central government to reduce development inequality.

Dynamic panel data modeling of Indonesia’s poverty level 2013-2022

Poverty in Indonesia is a problem that needs special attention by the government. Poverty is due to the high level of inequality, unequal distribution of income, and the number of poor people, which continue to increase. Therefore, it can affect society’s economy. This research aims to identify incongruities between endogenous and exogenous variables that influence poverty levels in Indonesia. By applying a descriptive quantitative analysis approach for 2013-2022 in the form of secondary data from the Indonesian Central Statistics Agency, the research model uses dynamic panel data regression analysis based on the Generalized Method Of Moment method (GMM). The method was developed by Arellano-Bond, of which the two best models are First-Difference GMM and System GMM, which create an impartial, consistent, and efficient model for determining short-term ang long-term effects. The research results show that HDI has a significant negative impact on short-term and long-term relationships with poverty levels, resulting in low human resources. Exports have a significant negative impact on poverty levels in the short and long term. This means that if exports increase, poverty levels can be reduced. Imports have a significant positive impact on short-term and long-term with poverty levels. In import activities, the higher the price increases, the more people's purchasing power decreases. The results are declared to have a significant effect because the p-value is significance of level 5% or 0.05. It is expected that the research will become reference material for macroeconomic development and further research regarding poverty alleviation.

In between lived life and a social policy agenda: the Global South social question from the inside (Brazil)

This article aims to demonstrate how gender, class, and race are intertwined at the micro level, addressing the interaction of lived life and social policy, through biographical interviews, in Brazil. Less interested in the analysis of inequalities per se, this article focuses on the way black, elderly, poor, female heads of families, living in urban neighbourhoods, manage to subjectively resignify objective domination. The in-depth biographical approach reveals the (re)construction of their subjectivity, defining personal sacrifice as a form of protagonism (agency) and empowerment. This process of resignification occurs by exchanging the unit of experience they relate to, from the individual to the family unit. It engages with social policies (social assistance, public health, and social housing) implemented by the latest Labour Party’s term of office (2003–2016). These policies are based on the role of women as responsible for the family unit. The focus on subjectivity, in different Brazilian metropoles, challenges the production of conformed neoliberal selves, in this case of women, within a specific Global South context, marked by historically high levels of inequality and informal work, since the formal end of slavery.

Investigating the Inequality Trend in Health Resource Distribution in Iran: A Case Study in Bushehr Province

Background: Equity in access to health resources is a fundamental goal of health systems worldwide. Objectives: This study aims to assess the distribution of essential health resources necessary for healthcare provision in Bushehr Province. Methods: This cross-sectional study spans ten years and utilizes several widely recognized indices in health resource distribution equity and equality, including the Gini Coefficient, Concentration Index, Horizontal Inequity, Robin Hood Index, Theil Index, Atkinson Index, and Quantile Ratio. These indices were calculated based on both the population level and the proposed resource allocation model (PRAM) using Excel Software 2018 and Stata version 18. Results: The findings indicate a degree of inequality in the distribution of all health resources examined, with special beds exhibiting much higher levels of inequality than others. The sensitivity of the studied indices varied across the distributed resources. Moreover, the trend of inequality generally decreased for all examined resources. The PRAM results suggest that adopting a different approach to resource distribution can significantly reduce inequality levels. Conclusions: Despite a downward trend in the inequality of health resource distribution, significant disparities persist. Altering the resource distribution system from the conventional geographical division could aid in achieving equity and equality in healthcare. Such changes could also reduce the costs associated with the health system.

Determinants and impacts of rural crime victimization: Evidence from a case study in Southeast Asia

We use a panel dataset of around 3500 rural households from Southeast Asia and investigate evidence on crime victimization. More concretely, we ask (1) to what extent are rural people affected by crime? (2) What factors determine rural crime victimization? And (3) what are the impacts of crime victimization on welfare of rural households? We use the routine activity approach as the theoretical framework and apply different logit models to identify determinants of crime victimization. We find that 5.46% of the rural households have been victimized, mainly by theft, over the last 12 months, some of them even more than once. Living in a rural region with higher levels of inequality is positively correlated with the likelihood of theft victimization. Households with higher levels of crop commercialization are associated with a higher victimization risk, while households with more livestock and being more specialized in specific livestock species are associated with a lower risk. Moreover, past victimization and exposure to weather shocks are positively associated with the likelihood of being affected by crime. With respect to the impacts, we use the heteroscedasticity-based instrumental variable approach to account for endogeneity and find highly significant negative effects of agricultural theft victimization on food consumption and child health outcomes. We conclude that rural crime requires attention although overall incidence is low in rural Thailand and Vietnam. Guardianship should be promoted, especially in times of weather shocks. Finally, reducing inequality helps preventing theft.

Fiscal policy and dimensions of inequality in South Africa: A time‐varying coefficient approach

AbstractSouth Africa continues to face high inequality levels despite its progressive tax and extensive social protection systems. We compare the dynamic impact of fiscal policy on the distribution of incomes, wages and wealth in South Africa from 1993 to 2019. For this purpose, we use a time‐varying parameter vector autoregression to estimate the impact of direct tax revenue and total transfer spending on three distinct inequality datasets. The analysis of various dimensions of inequality is the main contribution of the paper as the literature typically focuses on income inequality. A second contribution lies in the incorporation of time‐varying effects, which enables the analysis of the changing relationship between fiscal policy and inequality. The results suggest that this relationship is indeed time‐varying and that the impact of direct taxes and transfers differs markedly across the inequality dimensions, both in terms of magnitude and sign. Overall, we find that both transfers and direct taxes have not significantly reduced income, wage or wealth inequality in South Africa.

Democracy and Regionalism: A Special Reference to the Study of Sambalpur District of Odisha

Growth is political and not managerial or administrative in the conceived technical sense (Leftwich 1984, 2000, 2004). That is the process of growth in human societies involves the organisation, mobilisation, combination, use and distribution of resources in new ways. That leads to inevitable disputes among individuals and groups or their combination on how such resources are to be used because of the calculation of gain and loss as a result of different configurations. It is appropriate in all the spheres from the grass-roots to national level in both developed and developing societies. However, the variation is that in a developed society changes come through institutionalised ways with more of a consensual mode of democratic politics. On the other hand, in embryonic societies with a high level of inequalities, a change threatens the interest of some directly which otherwise may be necessary for the promotion of development, like land reform. Therefore, both politics and state are central in the process of mobilisation, direction and development of resources in a new way that does not happen on its own. The research paper investigates the fusion of regional aspirations with democratic governance, elucidating how Sambalpur's cultural richness intertwines with demands for cultural preservation, political representation, and socio-economic progress. Beyond safeguarding cultural heritage, the study scrutinizes the district's needs for infrastructure development, equitable resource allocation, employment opportunities, and overall socio-economic advancement.

Convergence of Inequality Dimensions in China: Income, Consumption, and Wealth from 1988 to 2018

AbstractUsing household data from 1988 to 2018, we confirm that the increase in income inequality in China has come to a halt in recent years but show that inequality in wealth and consumption continues to increase. We report a clear convergence of inequality across the different dimensions of income, consumption, and wealth. Households at the top of one dimension are increasingly located at the top of the other two dimensions. The mechanisms for such convergence across dimensions are analyzed. The savings rate links income and consumption, while capital accumulation is the central mechanism linking income and wealth. In addition, the wealth and income structure contribute to intensifying the convergence trend. We argue that the relatively high level of inequality in China may continue since income, consumption and wealth are increasingly reinforcing each other.

Polanyi, Piketty, and the Twenty-First Century Market Economy

Both Karl Polanyi in The Great Transformation and Thomas Piketty in Capital and Ideology make use of the long historical roots of our current high levels of inequality and disappearing safety net, in an effort to understand the ideological basis of, and turmoil within, market societies. Both Polanyi and Piketty decry the erosion of the social institutions that maintained social stability and their replacement by market institutions. In this article, we provide brief overviews of the arguments of both Polanyi and Piketty and then use their framework to analyze current economic and social developments.

ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЕ НЕРАВЕНСТВО И ЕГО ВЛИЯНИЕ НА ИННОВАЦИОННУЮ АКТИВНОСТЬ В РАЗВИВАЮЩИХСЯ СТРАНАХ

Economic inequality in developing countries is a significant issue that has profound implications for innovation and economic development. This article explores the mechanisms through which inequality limits access to resources needed for innovation, including education, finance, and in-frastructure. It provides examples of countries that have made significant progress in technological de-velopment despite high levels of inequality. It also examines policy and institutional measures aimed at mitigating inequality and supporting innovation, which can contribute to more inclusive and sustainable development.

The influence of social and economic factors on the emergence of inequality in the regions of Kazakhstan

Object: the aim of current study is to analyze the impact of social and economic factors on the emergence of inequality in the regions of Kazakhstan based on the regression analysis.Methods: to achieve the purpose of the study, regression analysis of social and economic factors on the Ginny coefficient was used for four regions of Kazakhstan: Akmola, Aktobe, Karaganda and East Kazakhstan regions. In addition, comparative analysis and statistical analysis were used. Data from the Bureau of National Statistics from 2001 to 2021 were used.Findings: in the case of Akmola, regression analysis shows that the F value of the model is statistically significant (Sig. = 0.017), which indicates that the model matches the data well. The coefficient Akm_PR is also significant, with a positive value of 0.016. This suggests that there is a statistically significant positive relationship between the variable Akm_PR and the Gini coefficient (Akm_Gini) in the Akmola region. In the Aktobe region, there is a statistically significant positive relationship between the variable Akt_HCE and the Gini coefficient (Akt_Gini). No statistically significant links were found in Karaganda. And in the East Kazakhstan region there is a statistically significant positive relationship between the variable EKZ_GRP and the Gini coefficient (EKZ_Gini).Conclusions: the study showed that the level of regional inequality varies significantly in different regions of Kazakhstan. East Kazakhstan has the highest level of inequality, while in Akmola, Aktobe and Karaganda regions inequality is more moderate. The results of the regression analysis also showed that the influence of independent variables on the level of inequality varies in different regions.

Inequalities in adiposity trends between 1979 and 1999 in Guatemalan children.

Guatemala suffered from civil war and high levels of inequality and childhood stunting in the second half of the 20th century, but little is known about inequalities in secular trends in adiposity. To investigate differences in childhood body mass index (BMI) and skinfold thickness trajectories from 1979 to 1999 between three groups of children: High socioeconomic position (SEP) Ladino, Low SEP Ladino, and Low SEP Indigenous Maya. The sample comprised 19 346 children aged 7-17 years with 54 638 observations. The outcomes were height, BMI, triceps skinfold thickness (TST), and subscapular skinfold thickness (SST) Z-scores according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) references. Sex-specific multilevel models were used to estimate and compare mean trajectories from 1979 to 1999 between the three groups. Mean Z-scores were always highest for High SEP Ladino children and lowest for Low SEP Maya children. Despite their very short stature, the Low SEP groups had SST trajectories that were above the 50th centile. The BMI trajectories were relatively flat and within one major centile band of the CDC median, with differences between the three groups that were small (0.2-0.3 Z-scores) and did not attenuate over time. Conversely, the TST Z-score trajectories demonstrated larger positive secular trends (e.g., from -1.25 in 1979 to -0.06 in 1999 for Low SEP Maya boys), with differences between the three groups that were large (0.5-1.2 Z-scores) and did attenuate over time (in boys). Secular trends and between-group difference in the SST Z-score trajectories were less pronounced, but again we found stronger evidence in boys that the estimated inequalities attenuated over time. Secular trends and inequalities in skinfolds differ from those for BMI in Guatemalan children. Differences between groups in skinfolds attenuated over time, at least in boys, but whether this is good news is questionable given the very short stature yet relatively large subscapular skinfolds of the Low SEP groups.

Credit - inequality nexus: the role of natural resources

This article offers a contribution to the understanding of the links between credit, inequality and natural resources, using panel data from 2002 to 2021 for 31 countries. A system-generalised method of moments was employed to determine the dynamic relationship between the variables of the study. The findings of the study suggest inequality and natural resources have a negative and significant relationship with credit. Higher inequality levels and natural resources rents are associated with a lower ratio of private credit to gross domestic product. The study offers an insight into the three pillars of sustainability, namely economic, social and environmental. It is essential for policymakers to integrate environmental factors such as natural resources in the relationships between inequality and the financial sector.

Innovation as a Tool to Improve Public Service Delivery: South African Government Perspective

AbstractSouth African citizens are still facing problems of poor service provision in the local, provincial, and national governments after 28 years of democracy. The standard of public service provision and implementation in South Africa is deteriorating. It is important to note that due to the country's high level of unemployment, the majority of South African citizens rely on government service provision. Because of the government's inability to reach every citizen with efficient and effective service provision, South Africa has the highest level of inequality and a huge gap between the rich and the poor, making efficient service provision a solution to bridge the gap and inequality. This article proposed that the government must develop techniques to boost innovation in the public sector to prioritize service delivery in the country, as there are many challenges surrounding the South African public sector. Qualitative approach was adopted in this research, through the review of recent secondary sources to address the objectives of this study.Keywords: Citizens, Government, Innovation, Service Provision.

Income inequality and export‐oriented commercialization in colonial Africa: Evidence from six countries

AbstractLimited knowledge of African historical inequality trajectories hampers our understanding of inequality outcomes today and leads to a major omission in debates about global inequality. Economies in colonial Africa were characterized by a process of export‐oriented commercialization. We hypothesize that this process itself, the capital intensity of the commodities produced, and the relative importance of European and Asian expatriates and settlers in the economy shaped heterogeneous inequality outcomes. We evaluate these hypotheses using 33 social tables from six predominately agricultural countries between 1914 and 1969. Social tables capture income across the full distribution, aggregated in classes. We assess and improve the commensurability of the different social tables. We then apply different inequality metrics, and find that Gini and Theil coefficients and Inequality Extraction Ratios rose over time. Gini coefficients moved in conjunction with the real value of commodity exports per capita. Using Theil decompositions, we observe a trade‐off between inequality among African classes on the one hand, and among non‐Africans and between races on the other. Whenever present, non‐Africans captured a large share of the export profits. Inequality patterns towards the end of the period suggest that capital‐intensive commodities were associated with higher levels of inequality in the agricultural sector.

Aging, education and some other implications for the silver dividend in developing countries: Evidence from Brazil

Population aging increases dependency levels and can influence the transition from working life to retirement. Changes in population structure have important economic effects, which can be positive when analyzing the impacts of a more educated older labor force but could also impact families and governments. It is important to consider how age and education composition are associated with each other in contexts marked by high levels of inequality. In this paper, we analyze the economic consequences of the aging process in Brazil considering the role of improvements in education and the possibility of the constitution of a silver dividend in the country. We use a series of simulation models, based on the determinants of labor supply and labor income of people aged 45 years and over, to investigate the impacts of changes in the educational composition of the labor force. Our simulations show that the positive association between education, labor supply, and labor income would be more pronounced in scenarios of higher levels of education, labor market stability (high status activities and informality reduction), and changes in retirement rules, specifically the establishment of minimum ages. Such a context would increase the number of older workers and improve productivity, allowing appropriate conditions for the development of a silver dividend in Brazil in a quantitative and a qualitative way.

Socioeconomic inequalities in national transfers accounts in Ecuador 2006 and 2011: Did a new socialist government make a difference?

Latin America is the least egalitarian region in the world. A neo-socialist government in Ecuador prioritized the reduction of socioeconomic status (SES) inequalities. The generational economy is a framework to understand the economic lifecycle and to link demographic change with people's well-being. This article aims to uncover SES-driven inequalities in the generational economy of Ecuador: did public transfers modify them from 2006 to 2011? National transfer accounts (NTA) were disaggregated by SES quartiles, which were defined by the highest level of education attainment in each household. The accounts within SES quartiles were estimated using standard NTA methods. A pseudo-Gini coefficient summarized SES-driven inequalities by age and generational account. This secondary analysis was based on existing micro databases from the Ecuadorian NTA. ResultsNational averages do not represent well the generational economy of the low-SES population. The usual gradient of higher economic figures in higher SES strata shows up in almost all NTAs with the notable exceptions of reversal (progressive) gradients in conditional public cash transfers to low-SES households and public education at the elementary school level. Retirement pensions are extremely regressive public transfers, benefiting mostly high-SES strata. ConclusionsPopulation aging might worsen the high levels of inequality already existing in Ecuador and Latin America. Some progressive public policies worked well to reduce inequality in Ecuador. ContributionThis article demonstrates the importance of uncovering SES-driven inequalities existing in NTAs and their change through the lifecycle. It also identifies public policies that ameliorated inequality as well as public transfers that are regressive.

Deaths of despair in England: an observational study of local authority mortality data

BackgroundDeaths of Despair (DoD) are socially patterned causes of death encompassing drug and alcohol misuse and suicide. DoDs are strongly associated with socioeconomic disadvantage. England has high levels of inequalities, so we hypothesised the existence of marked geographical variations in DoD. We aimed to yield new knowledge on the spatial distribution of DoD, and area-level socioeconomic factors that predict DoD risk in England. MethodsThis observational study was conducted using ICD-10 coded deaths for 307 local authorities in England during 2019–21. Deaths were grouped to non-overlapping categories of drug-related death, alcohol-specific death, and suicide. The mean contributions of each of these causes to the total number of DoD in England were calculated with Poisson exact confidence intervals. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) for DoD were generated for each local authority population. A multivariable regression model for DoD risk was developed using 25 socioeconomic variables. FindingsAn estimated 46 200 people lost their lives due to DoD between Jan 1, 2019, and Dec 31, 2021. Regional SMRs ranged from 57·4 (SD 16·1) in London to 144·1 (SD 26·8) in the northeast of England (p<0·0001). Alcohol-specific deaths were the largest contributor of DoD, accounting for 44·1% of DoD (95% CI 43·5–44·8), followed by drug-related death (28·1%, 27·7–28·6) and suicide (27·7%, 27·2–28·2). Living in the North, living alone, White British ethnicity, lower inward migration, economic inactivity, income deprivation in older people, employment in elementary occupations, unemployment, and education deprivation in adults were significantly associated with higher DoD rates in England. InterpretationDoD in England are spatially patterned, with northern regions experiencing a considerably higher burden of mortality from these avoidable causes. A key limitation is ecological bias. This study provides novel insights into area-level risk factors for DoD in England. FundingNational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester (ARC-GM).

Democracy as an Elite Tool for Oppressing the Majority: A Case of Selected African Countries

This paper seeks to establish and investigate the incontrovertible scenarios that the people of Zimbabwe and Uganda experienced during the dawn of democracy. This paper argues that "democracy" is a system beneficial to the elites but unbearable and detrimental to the livelihoods of ordinary people in Zimbabwe and Uganda. The democratic breakthrough in these countries brought hope, confidence, and zest to the proletariats that their dire socio-economic conditions would be transformed for the better. But little did they know that their conditions would be exacerbated than ever before. The high levels of inequalities, poverty and unemployment in these countries continue to haunt the people. Unfortunately, this happens under the ambit of AU, which is tight-lipped to such conditions people are going through. Regrettably, it appears as if the ones who are in positions of leadership are fueling the abuse of democracy, wherein they abuse their power in government to orchestrate their illegitimate shenanigans. Subsequently, human rights are often violated and suppressed when the “mighty” officials want to influence the processes of democracy with a direct autocratic system. Despite the calls from the UN that human rights and democracy should be respected and adhered to, people continue to witness the violence and suppression of such principles under the ambit of democratic governments. This paper uses a qualitative research approach to analyze the scenarios of the abuse of democracy in these countries. This paper finds that the violation of freedom of expression, assembly, and freedom of association is prevalent in these countries. Therefore, the paper recommends that structures such as the AU should enforce their responsibilities to safeguard and protect the rights of the people as per democratic states.