Poverty Inequality Research Articles

Fair pay in eastern Europe – The continuing challenge of poverty wages

Economic growth has been steady across eastern Europe in recent times. Nevertheless, this is not being shared equitably with the workers that create that wealth. The lack of a living wage, the decline of collective bargaining and the violation and erosion of workers’ rights, alongside the failure of governments to regulate the economy effectively, are each, in turn, creating despair and anger, and holding back further growth. Social protections for those not in work are woefully inadequate and leave many workers unprotected. Furthermore, countries in the region that have already acceded to the EU still demonstrate substantial disparities on these issues with the old EU member states, threatening the objective of upwards social convergence across the EU. Observing these injustices, this article calls for a fresh approach across eastern Europe which sees the economic and social benefits of various forms of social protection allowed to play their role in reducing poverty and wage inequalities. Consequently, ten countries from across the region have joined together to campaign under a single ‘Fair Pay’ banner.

ФАКТОРЫ МИГРАЦИИ В СТРАНЫ ЕВРОСОЮЗА ВО ВРЕМЯ КРИЗИСА 2015-2016 ГОДОВ

The article examines the key socio-economic aspects of the migration crisis and highlights the main causes of mass migration to the European Union from Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The main characteristic of the economic situation in these countries is given and the significant problems faced by the donor States of migrants in the last few years are studied. Among the problems highlighted: high population growth rates, pressure on the environment by residents of Africa and the Middle East, limited access to resources, food and fresh water; the problem of unemployment; the problem of poverty and social inequality; high competition in the labor market; low salaries; difficult economic situation and problems in the financial sector. It is noted that these problem were the main cause of mass migration to Europe. Based on a detailed study of official statistics, special attention is paid to the level of unemployment and poverty, GDP level, the population growth rate, as well as the level of wages in Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. These indicators are compared to indicators in the countries of Eastern Europe. Their analysis shows that the standards of living in these regions is below average, that is why residents are forced to leave these countries for the European Union in search of a better life for themselves and their relatives. Among the countries that are of the greatest interest to migrants are: Germany, Great Britain, Ireland and so on.

Poverty Analysis and Inequality Distribution in Yogyakarta Special Region

This study aims to analyze Poverty Inequality and Inequality of Regency/ City Revenue Distribution in Yogyakarta Province D.I. Secondary data here uses data between places or spaces (cross-sections) taken from all districts/cities in Yogyakarta, while data for time series data is taken in 2009-2015 where this data is data collected in a certain time period. Data which is a combination of cross-section and time-series data used in this study is called panel data. The paper using literature review approach and metadata analysis. In this study, the results show that the human development index variable, GRDP, local original income, general allocation funds affect the Inequality of the District Revenue / City Distribution in Yogyakarta.

Whose New Normal?

Belying the rhetoric of “We’re all in this together,” and “COVID as the great equalizer,” the pandemic has brought into focus the “pre-existing conditions” of inequality—poverty, racism, lack of health care, lack of child care, women’s double burden, and the vulnerability of the elderly, among others. The coronavirus reveals gaping inequities in the length and quality of life caused by social and economic “pre-existing conditions.” It is the great unequalizer, the promise and ruse of “We’re all in this together.” The new normal for some, is the old normal for many others.

On Socio-Economic Predictors of Religious Intolerance: Evidence from a Large-Scale Longitudinal Survey in the Largest Muslim Democracy

Motivated by increasing religious intolerance, we study the socio-economic covariates of individual-level religious intolerance in Indonesia, the largest Muslim democracy in the world. We use panel data from 2007 and 2014 of more than 20,000 adult individuals (representing 83% of the population) and apply fixed-effect regression analysis to identify relevant socio-economic characteristics that are highly associated with religious intolerance at the individual level. We utilize survey questions on willingness to accept someone with different faith living in the same village, living in the same neighborhood, renting a house, marrying relatives or children, and building a place of worship in the neighborhood as our measures of religious intolerance. We find that higher individual income and educational attainment are positively correlated with the tolerance level. At the same time, a higher level of self-declared religiosity is negatively correlated with a tolerant attitude. For location-specific characteristics, higher income inequality and extent of poverty in the location where an individual resides are associated with a higher level of religious intolerance. These patterns are generally robust across different measures of religious intolerance, although there is heterogeneity in the magnitudes of the correlations, where these covariates have the smallest correlations with the willingness to accept interfaith marriage in the family.

Pengaruh ketimpangan pendapatan dan kemiskinan terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi antar pulau di Indonesia

This study aims to find out and analyze the effect of income inequality and poverty on economic growth on each island in Indonesia. To answer these objectives, panel data regression (pooled data) is used. The results of the study show: (1). the best regressions on estimation models are based on the Chow and the Hausman test using the Fixed Effect Model estimation model for each island in Indonesia. (2). Income and poverty inequality negatively affected economic growth in all islands in Indonesia during the 2015-2018.

CHALLENGES OF MIDDLE CLASS FORMATION IN THE CONTEXT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN GEORGIA

In order to ensure irreversible development and stable social-economic conditions of a State, it should have a strong middle class, defining the country’s social and economic development targets. Considering the said, economic policy of development should be directed to the implementation of the measures supporting the formation of the healthy middle class in Georgia. Share of the population belonging to the middle class is still low in Georgia. According to the studies conducted by the World Bank, in 2014 only 7% of the population of Georgia belonged to the middle class. According to the economic- statistical study conducted in Georgia in 2018, share of the population belonging to the middle class in 2016 was 16%. The same study, with exclusion of the employment factor, shows the growth of the said share to 24,6%. Ignoring the employment – very important determinant of the middle class – naturally puts the last figure far from reality. Current income inequality and high level of poverty negatively impact formation of the middle class in the country. In order to form a middle class, Government of Georgia must overcome the problems faced by country’s entrepreneurship and society by means of the purposeful implementation of the rational policy of economic development. Achieving the said target requires: a stable political-economic environment; elaboration of the small, medium business development programs oriented on the inclusive growth, increase the scales of the currently existing program; development of the special professional training and employment programs for the population below the poverty line; promotion of economic activities based on the start of entrepreneurship, development of the start-ups, innovations and advanced technologies.

Pengaruh Pendidikan, Pengangguran, dan Kemiskinan terhadap Ketimpangan Pendapatan di Indonesia

This research aims to analyze the effect of education, unemployment, and poverty on income inequality in Indonesia, both partially and simultaneously. This research uses secondary data with a quantitative approach. The type of research used is the type of associative research. The variables in this study are education, unemployment, poverty, and income inequality — data source from BPS and the Ministry of Education and Culture. The data analysis technique used is panel data regression analysis with cross-section 34 provinces and time series for 2015-2018. The results of the research obtained the random effect model, the best models. The results of data analysis show that education and poverty had a partial effect on income inequality in Indonesia, while unemployment had not to affect income inequality. Simultaneously, education, unemployment, and poverty affect income inequality in Indonesia. However, education, unemployment, and poverty can only explain 22.37% of the effect on income inequality in Indonesia. The rest is influenced by factors outside the model.

Proliferation of Small Arms & Light Weapons (SALWs) and Ethno-Religious Conflicts in Kaduna State, Nigeria (2012 to 2018)

Hardly a year passes without a media report of deadly ethnoreligious conflicts in various parts of Nigeria which results in the wanton destruction of lives and property of the citizens. In the mainstream discourse, the use of small arms and light weapons (SALWs) has been variously attributed, as the trigger for the recurring ethno religious conflicts. However, this paper attempts to unravel, using evidence from primary and secondary sources, which builds upon the fragile-state theoretical framework of analysis, the phenomenal recurring incidences of ethno religious conflicts in Nigeria, with particular emphasis on Kaduna state where the phenomenon was most endemic, from 2012 to 2018. The study adopted a time-series survey research design. A multi-stage purposeful sampling technique was adopted in selecting three hundred and thirty-seven (337) respondents from the three local government areas in the study area. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Though our research question was: ‘did the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALWs) precipitates the recurring ethnoreligious conflicts in Kaduna state during the period 2012 to 2019?’; the findings, however, reveal that a multicollinearity of factors, notably, high-level of illiteracy, endemic poverty, unemployment, inequality and widespread drug-abuse among the youths, concomitantly explains the behavior of our dependent variable, i.e., the recurring ethno-religious conflicts in Kaduna state during the period 2012 to 2018. To mitigate and possibly annihilate this ever-recurring social anathema in Nigeria, the Nigerian government, should, as a matter of urgency, address the multifaced vices of poverty, unemployment, social and economic inequality as well as endemic illiteracy bedeviling the society in Nigeria in general, but particularly in Kaduna state.

RISKS AND THREATS OF THE ALTAI REGION ECONOMY AND SOCIAL SPHERE ADAPTATION TO CHANGES IN THE EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT

The article is devoted to the study of the regional socio-economic systems' reactions to changes in national macroeconomic parameters. The features of the agro-industrial regions' economy and social sphere adaptation are revealed. The main problems of the development of agro-industrial regions, characterized by peripheral position, are disclosed. The characteristic of restrictions, risks and threats to their development is given. On the example of the Altai Territory, an attempt to comprehensively consider key challenges to the development of the region.
 In the field of economics, the following are identified as threats:
 — de-industrialization of the region economy;
 — limited reproductive capabilities;
 — a significantly deeper fall in labor productivity compared with Russia;
 — lack of conditions for ensuring modernization and qualitative changes in the region economy.
 The three most acute problems in the sphere of population incomes are outlined: low income level; insufficient growth rates; poverty and excessive income inequality.
 The most important demographic risks of the sustainable development of the Altai Territory are revealed: population reduction, aging, and imbalances in resettlement.

AGING IN LATIN AMERICA: A FOCUS ON MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES

Population aging is occurring rapidly across Latin America, a region that includes some of the world’s most racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse populations. Aging in this region is occurring in a context of high levels of poverty and income inequality, which has implications for disease risk, cognitive health, and overall well-being. This symposium focuses on Mexico and Colombia, two of Latin America’s largest middle-income countries, which have recently undergone rapid epidemiological and demographic transitions. The papers in this symposium examine a variety of health dimensions among older Latinos that include physiological functioning, cognition, and psychological and physical well-being. García uses the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine biomarkers known to predict health risk among Mexican-origin populations: Mexico-born living in Mexico, Mexico-born living in the U.S., and U.S.-born Mexican-Americans. Saenz examines the importance of education on late-life cognitive ability among Mexicans using data from the MHAS Cognitive Aging Ancillary Study. Using data from the Colombian Survey of Health, Well-Being, and Aging (SABE-Colombia), Ailshire examines variation in biological risk across key subgroups of the population. Osuna uses data from the Colombian National Quality of Life Survey (ENCV) to determine if social and economic inequalities are reflected in unequal health and well-being among older adults. Results highlight which Latin American populations have increased risk for poorer health, which merit further research and policy attention. The findings highlight the importance of understanding health and well-being in the rapidly growing older adult populations of Latin America.

THE ROLE OF GERONTOLOGISTS IN ACHIEVING THE UN’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) developed by the United Nations in 2015 have as their underlying theme, the pledge that no one will be left behind. The SDGs address global poverty, inequality, climate change, the environment, peace and justice. They are intended to be global benchmarks to be reached by 2030 to ensure well-being and prosperity while protecting and promoting human rights and freedoms (UN, 2015). They envision a world without poverty, where all persons can live with dignity and security in societies free of violence and discrimination based on the foundation of universal human rights. The 17 goals and their 169 targets cover a range of social and economic development issues from poverty and gender inequality to climate change and sustainable cities. These goals are both interrelated and indivisible with each important for individual and social well-being. For example, achieving gender equality can help eradicate poverty while improved health can contribute to increased individual productivity and economic growth. Unfortunately, the needs of older people are larger ignored. In this symposium we outline how gerontologists can and have contributed to the SDG goals. We provide input from four disciplines whose work directly addresses the needs of older people. The four disciplines are: health- how do we meet the health needs of older people, psychology – what are the mental health issues facing older people, public policy – how can\\has governments assist through laws and policy, and social work – how can social work address the needs of the vulnerable old.

Economy of Georgia: Fragile economic stability

This paper is devoted to the analysis of the main factors of economic growth stability of Georgia persistent during the last 30 years of the country’s development. Exceptional gravity of the crisis in the beginning of market transformation of Georgia in 1980—1990 as well as the success of market reforms is discussed. The article also highlights the consequences of the transitional period both for the citizens of the country and for the whole economy, in particular for human capital development under conditions of persistent socio-economic imbalances. In addition, this research analyzes recent changes in the structure and the drivers of economic growth and the dependence of Georgian economy on external financing (both investments and personal remittances). Even though there has been a noticeable macroeconomic stability in the post-Soviet period which manifests itself in stable GDP growth rates, social development of Georgia is still characterized by a number of problems such as low natural population growth, high levels of poverty and social inequality.

Time poverty in Egypt and Tunisia: is there a gender gap?

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the gender differences in time poverty in two Middle East North African (MENA) countries, particularly Egypt and Tunisia, as well as examining its determinants across gender.Design/methodology/approachTo this end, the authors make use of data provided by the Labor Market Panel Survey (LMPS) in Egypt (2012) and in Tunisia (2014) to estimate probit regressions to identify various determinants that explain time poverty.FindingsThe empirical findings show that the probability of time poverty, in both countries, is lower for women compared to men. In addition, the determinants of time poverty (individual, household and community variables) and their marginal effects differ across gender.Originality/valueResearch on the gender inequalities in time poverty and its determinants has been very limited. Additionally, the relationships between individuals’ time use and the conditions under which this might represent time poverty have not been fully studied in the literature. Moreover, most of the available studies have focused on developed countries; while studies tackling this issue in developing countries are very few. For the MENA region, in particular, this topic is totally missing in the available literature.

Mental health financing challenges, opportunities and strategies in low- and middle-income countries: findings from the Emerald project.

Current coverage of mental healthcare in low- and middle-income countries is very limited, not only in terms of access to services but also in terms of financial protection of individuals in need of care and treatment. To identify the challenges, opportunities and strategies for more equitable and sustainable mental health financing in six sub-Saharan African and South Asian countries, namely Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda. In the context of a mental health systems research project (Emerald), a multi-methods approach was implemented consisting of three steps: a quantitative and narrative assessment of each country's disease burden profile, health system and macro-fiscal situation; in-depth interviews with expert stakeholders; and a policy analysis of sustainable financing options. Key challenges identified for sustainable mental health financing include the low level of funding accorded to mental health services, widespread inequalities in access and poverty, although opportunities exist in the form of new political interest in mental health and ongoing reforms to national insurance schemes. Inclusion of mental health within planned or nascent national health insurance schemes was identified as a key strategy for moving towards more equitable and sustainable mental health financing in all six countries. Including mental health in ongoing national health insurance reforms represent the most important strategic opportunity in the six participating countries to secure enhanced service provision and financial protection for individuals and households affected by mental disorders and psychosocial disabilities. D.C. is a staff member of the World Health Organization.

Reply to “A Call to Focus on Racial Domination and Oppression: A Response to ‘Racial and Ethnic Inequality in Poverty and Affluence, 1959–2015’”

The comment raises some thoughtful points but offers an approach to research on racial and ethnic differences in poverty and affluence guided by ideology rather than testable theory. Such an approach, with its presumptions and internal contradictions, ultimately does not offer a path to greater insight on these issues.

A Call to Focus on Racial Domination and Oppression: A Response to “Racial and Ethnic Inequality in Poverty and Affluence, 1959–2015″

In this essay, I respond to Racial and Ethnic Inequality in Poverty and Affluence, 1959–2015 (hereafter Racial and Ethnic Inequality). I argue that Racial and Ethnic Inequality does not fully explain racial inequality in poverty and affluence—particularly among black Americans and American Indians compared to white Americans—because the manuscript follows conventional approaches to the study of racial inequality that obscure racial domination and oppression in the US. These conventional approaches include (1) highlighting the racial gap in a given outcome without conceptualizing and historicizing the social construction of race, (2) theorizing human capital as race-neutral to account for racial inequality, and (3) employing data analyses that reflect analytic bifurcation, which treat racial groups as real essences, monolithic, and position white Americans as the standard against which people of color are measured. These conventional approaches are not unique to Racial and Ethnic Inequality. My goal is to use Racial and Ethnic Inequality as an illustrative example of how conventional approaches address the idea of “race” in sociological research, and whether these approaches provide readers with the most optimal ways to understand racial inequality in the US. I make several recommendations to move research on racial inequality forward. My intention is to spark a conversation about what can be considered “best practices” in addressing the role of race in racial inequality research.

An Inter-state Analysis of Women’s Participation in MGNREGA

The inter-state variations in the participation of rural women in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in India poses major challenges to the success of the programme. The present article tries to find out how demographic, socioeconomic and gender development indicators impact inter-state variations across the states. The major finding of the article is that in the states where poverty and gender inequality are deeply intertwined and factored into low human development, women’s participation in MGNREGA tend to be minimal. It suggests policy reforms to tackle the various nuisances that rural women confront in their daily lives and minimise gender inequalities in public work programmes.

Monuments outlive history: Confederate monuments, the legacy of slavery, and black-white inequality

ABSTRACTThe conceptual linkages among Confederate monuments, slavery, and race suggest that Confederate monuments are relevant for explaining contemporary black–white inequality, yet we have little evidence on these relationships. I aim to further develop these possible connections. My analysis relies on a unique data set of Confederate monuments located in public spaces in the US South. I find that counties with Confederate monuments – specifically monuments inscribed with rhetoric glorifying either the soldiers as “heroes” or the cause as “pure” – have higher than expected levels of black–white poverty inequality. However, this relationship is stronger where the legacy of slavery is weaker, namely in counties with smaller historical concentrations of slaves. Confederate monuments are intertwined with a complex history, one that may continue to be reflected in the contemporary landscape of black–white inequality. The presented results are only suggestive, but they provide guidance for important avenues of future research.

The viability of the welfare state in Botswana

ABSTRACTVulnerability, mainly manifesting in poverty, economic risk and insecurities of life, is a universal problem. There are huge pockets of vulnerability in the developing world, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan African states provide social welfare goods to address vulnerability. Social welfare programmes cost money, hence, there is a need to consider issues of sustainability, particularly, given constrained revenue envelopes. Similarly, while Botswana has posted developmental successes, there are vulnerabilities such as poverty, unemployment and income inequality which demand intervention through welfare programmes. Thus, the objective of this desktop study was to discuss the state's response to vulnerability. It concluded that Botswana funds welfare programmes. However, there are affordability challenges, mainly, a constrained post-2007 fiscal space calls into question the viability of the welfare state. The general lesson from the case is that while the welfare state goes to the heart of the social contract, its viability must be guaranteed through reforms.