Regional Inequality Research Articles

Overview of Endovascular Treatment of Infra Renal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Over the Last 21 Years in Brazil

Introduction: Endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (EVAR) has emerged as an innovative therapeutic alternative with significant growth potential. Despite its advantages, factors such as costs, short- and long-term benefits and patient characteristics are still being analyzed and make it difficult to increase the number of these procedures when compared to the traditional open technique. Objectives: To describe the statistical behavior of endovascular treatment for AAA repair over the last 21 years in Brazil. Materials and Methods: Retrospective and descriptive study of data available in the DataSUS database, where variables relating to the number of hospitalizations, number of deaths, average length of stay and hospital and professional costs were analyzed. Results: Among the 1,618 hospitalizations for endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms in Brazil between 2002 and 2023, 680 occurred in the South region, followed by the Southeast region with 674 hospitalizations. The mortality rate was 7.94% in this period and the number of deaths was 130. The highest number of deaths was recorded in the Southeast, while the highest mortality rates were in the North and Midwest, 66.67 and 47, respectively. Discussion: The results showed regional inequalities and the influence of socio-economic indices on access to healthcare in Brazil, so that the more economically developed regions showed better results in terms of hospitalizations and mortality. Conclusion: Although the study has limitations, it showed a growing trend in the use of EVAR in Brazil, with the South and Southeast regions having better results in terms of hospitalizations and mortality, while the North and Midwest regions had lower hospitalization rates and higher mortality rates, pointing to underreporting and limited access to advanced treatments.

Regional inequalities in excess mortality and its community determinants during the early COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea

BackgroundExcess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic provides a comprehensive measure of disease burden, and its local variation highlights regional health inequalities. We investigated local excess mortality in 2020 and its...

An integrated adaptive allocation model for unified optimization of conventional and unconventional water resources based on fairness and efficiency

Unconventional water (UW) use has pros and cons, presenting the challenge of matching water utilization with regional water use characteristics. This study proposed the concept of amount-centered adaptive water allocation and built an integrated adaptive allocation model that includes conventional water (CW) and UW adaptability. The model consists of two modules. The first module introduces the regional composite index and inequality index to match CW and UW allocation amount with the sub-region’s characteristics. The second module defines the efficiency of CW and UW allocation, employs the Zero-Sum Gains Data Envelopment Analysis to find the solution set with the highest efficiency on the Pareto front, and further modifies it to reach the optimal allocation efficiency. Then the proposed model was applied to Jiangsu Province, China. Empirical and comparative analyses of the 54 weighting plans proved the validity and practicability of the model. The results showed: (1) The model tallies with the principles of fairness and efficiency and reduces the spatial heterogeneity of water shortage risk; (2) When available water supply decreases by over 20% due to future water-related emergency incidents, CW allocation would first reach its upper limit, while UW fails to effectively bridge the supply–demand gap; (3) Only by improving the maximum UW consumption by over 40% can the future risk of extreme water shortages be effectively addressed. The model proposed in this study has excellent practicality and application potential, providing a novel perspective for incorporating UW into the unified management of water resources.

Forced migration and local economic development: Evidence from postwar Hungary

We investigate the effects of forced migration on sending economies using the post-WW2 expulsion of German minorities from Hungary as a natural experiment. We combine historical and contemporary data sources to show that the forced migrations led to lasting reductions in economic activity. Plausible mechanisms driving this result appear to be sectoral change (shift towards agriculture) and skills differences between Germans and the settlers that replaced them. Our analysis reveals that forced migration can cause lasting regional inequalities in sending economies.

The impact of digital financial inclusion on bank performance: An exploration of mechanisms of action and heterogeneity.

The use of digital technology by banks and other financial institutions to facilitate financial inclusion is referred to as digital financial inclusion. This fusion of digital finance and traditional banking methods has the potential to impact banks' operational effectiveness. This study uses the panel effects model to examine the link between digital financial inclusion and bank performance in 30 Chinese provinces from 2012 to 2021. This research uses kernel density estimation to examine the spatial-temporal growth patterns of both variables. The mediator variable in examining how digital financial inclusion affects bank performance is risk-taking. Finally, the paper analyses the regional heterogeneity of the impact. It presents the following conclusions: (1) In China, digital financial inclusion and bank performance have constantly increased, with noticeable regional variances in their development levels. This regional inequality has widened gradually since 2018, yet it has not resulted in polarization. (2) The significant positive correlation between digital inclusive finance and banking performance indicates that banking performance tends to increase with the enhancement of digital inclusive finance. (3) Digital financial inclusion impacts bank performance, with risk-taking as a moderator. The spread of digital financial inclusion services enhances banks' willingness to take risks, enhancing overall efficiency. (4) Digital financial inclusion boosts bank performance in the Northwest, South, North, and East regions while lightly inhibiting it in the Central region. Based on the findings, this study makes bank and government suggestions.

Spatiotemporal Accessibility of Rail Transport Systems in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area and Its Implications on Economic Equity

Reducing inequality and fostering economic growth is the tenth global goal of the United Nations for sustainable development. Rail transport significantly influences spatial structures, industrial distributions, and is vital for regional economic integration. Despite its importance, the impact of rail transport on economic equity has not been thoroughly explored in current literature. This study aims to fill this gap by evaluating the spatiotemporal characteristics of rail transport accessibility and its implications for economic equity in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area. We considered high-speed, intercity, and conventional rail transport and employ three distinct indicators—door-to-door travel time, weighted average travel time, and potential accessibility—to provide a nuanced assessment of accessibility in the region. Each indicator provides a unique perspective on how accessibility affects economic equity, collectively broadening the scope of the analysis. From 1998 to 2020, the evolution of rail transport and its consequent impact on regional economic equity is scrutinized. Advanced econometric methods, namely ordinary least squares, and spatial Durbin models, are combined with the Gini coefficient and Lorenz curve for comprehensive quantitative analysis. This approach highlights the dynamic influence of rail transport development on economic equity, contributing to the sustainable urban development discourse. The results reveal that although rail transport advancements bolster connectivity and economic growth, they also exacerbate regional economic inequality. This study provides valuable insights for urban planning and policymaking by elucidating the complex relationship between rail transport accessibility and economic equity. Our findings underscore the importance of implementing balanced and inclusive transport policies that foster growth and efficiency while mitigating socioeconomic disparities.

Regional inequalities in the age of nearshoring

AbstractWhile the literature is rich in anecdotal cases of firms going through nearshoring strategies, understood as the relocation of production inputs in a geographically closer area, a study on the macroeconomic effects of nearshoring at regional level, in terms of both growth and regional inequalities, is still missing. Instead, understanding the potential regional variations in the outcomes of nearshoring practices is crucial for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to strike a balance between the imperative of strategic autonomy and the need to address existing regional disparities. The paper picks up such a challenge and, once nearshoring has been defined at the macroeconomic level as a process according to which the EU relative to extra‐EU inputs ratio increases, compared with a reference period in the past, it analyses regional inequality effects of such a phenomenon in Europe. The results show that nearshoring turns out to be notably diverse and contingent upon the efficiency gains the target regions offer. In some cases, it produces potential adverse consequences, going against the already complex process of decreasing regional disparities.

The Influence of Social Capital, Business Capital and Innovation on the Income of Traditional Cloth Craftsmen in Indonesia

The development of the tourism sector has a positive impact on the craft industry. Bali Province and the Special Region of Yogyakarta are two regions that are very well-known in the tourism sector that produce many types of crafts, one of which is in the textile sector. Both provinces have very specific economic characteristics when compared to other provinces in Indonesia. The increase in the tourism sector has been proven to have a positive impact on reducing poverty rates, unemployment, and also inequality in the Special Region of Yogyakarta Province and in the Province of Bali. Bali Province is famous for its woven fabric craft industry and the Special Region of Yogyakarta Province is famous for its batik cloth craft industry. Both traditional fabrics are currently still sought after by both domestic and foreign tourists, because of the beauty of the motifs that are full of meaning, but the sales figures for both fabrics are still very low. This study aims to (1) determine the effect of business capital on the income of traditional fabric craftsmen. (2) To determine the effect of social capital on the income of traditional fabric craftsmen (3) To determine the effect of innovation as a moderating variable on the relationship between business capital and the income of traditional fabric craftsmen. (4) To determine the effect of innovation as a moderating variable on the relationship between social capital and the income of traditional fabric craftsmen. The population in this study were all batik/woven fabric craftsmen in Tenganan Pengringsingan Tourism Village and Giriloyo Tourism Village. The sample used accidental sampling with questionnaires distributed to 65 respondents. The results of this study social capital and Innovation affect the income of craftsmen, while business capital does not affect the income of craftsmen. Innovation does not moderate the relationship between social capital and business capital on the income of craftsmen. The implication of this study is that craftsmen must create innovations according to local customs, culture and norms so as not to eliminate the meaning of the cloth. The limitation of this study is that the sample is only spread across several points.

Public drinking water contaminant estimates for birth cohorts in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) regulates over 80 contaminants in community water systems (CWS), including those relevant to infant health outcomes. Multi-cohort analyses of the association between measured prenatal public water contaminant concentrations and infant health outcomes are sparse in the US. Our objectives were to (1) develop Zip Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA)-level CWS contaminant concentrations for participants in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort and (2) evaluate regional, seasonal, and sociodemographic inequities in contaminant concentrations at the ZCTA-level. The ECHO Cohort harmonizes data from over 69 extant pregnancy and pediatric cohorts across the US. We used CWS estimates derived from the USEPA's Six-Year Review 3 (2006-2011) to develop population-weighted, average concentrations for 10 contaminants across 7640 ZCTAs relevant to the ECHO Cohort. We evaluated contaminant distributions, exceedances of regulatory thresholds, and geometric mean ratios (with corresponding percent changes) associated with ZCTA sociodemographic characteristics via spatial lag linear regression models. We observed significant regional variability in contaminant concentrations across the US. ZCTAs were most likely to exceed the maximum contaminant level for arsenic (n = 100, 1.4%) and the health-protective threshold for total trihalomethanes (n = 3584, 64.0%). A 10% higher proportion of residents who were American Indian/Alaskan Native and Hispanic/Latino was associated with higher arsenic (11%, 95% CI: 7%, 15%; and 2%, 95% CI: 0%, 3%, respectively) and uranium (15%, 95% CI: 10%, 21%; and 9%, 95% CI: 6%, 12%, respectively) concentrations. Nationwide epidemiologic analyses evaluating the association between US community water system contaminant concentration estimates and associated adverse birth outcomes in cohort studies are sparse because public water contaminant concentration estimates that can be readily linked to participant addresses are not available. We developed Zip Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA)-level CWS contaminant concentrations that can be linked to participants in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort and evaluated regional, seasonal, and sociodemographic inequities in contaminant concentrations for these ZCTAs. Future epidemiologic studies can leverage these CWS exposure estimates in the ECHO Cohort to evaluate associations with relevant infant outcomes.

COVID-19 Vaccination and Public Health: Addressing Global, Regional, and Within-Country Inequalities.

The COVID-19 pandemic, with over 775 million cases and 7 million deaths by May 2024, has drastically impacted global public health and exacerbated existing healthcare inequalities. The swift development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines have been critical in combating the virus, yet disparities in access to and administration of the vaccine have highlighted deep-seated inequities at global, regional, and national levels. Wealthier nations have benefited from early access to vaccines, while low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have faced persistent shortages. Initiatives such as COVAX aimed to address these disparities, but challenges persist. Socioeconomic factors, education, ethnic identity, and the healthcare infrastructure play crucial roles in vaccine equity. For example, lower-income individuals often face barriers such as poor access to healthcare, misinformation, and logistical challenges, particularly in rural areas. Addressing these inequities requires a multifaceted approach, integrating national policies with local strategies to enhance vaccines' accessibility, counter misinformation, and ensure equitable distribution. Collaborative efforts at all levels are essential to promote vaccine equity and effectively control the pandemic, ensuring that all populations have fair access to life-saving vaccines. This review explores these complex issues, offering insights into the barriers and facilitators of vaccine equity and providing recommendations to promote more equitable and effective vaccination programs. With a focus on the different levels at which vaccination policies are planned and implemented, the text provides guidelines to steer vaccination strategies, emphasizing the role of international cooperation and local policy frameworks as keys to achieving equitable vaccination coverage.

Increased interest with the introduction of fast-track diagnostic pathway is associated with the regionally increased frequency of giant cell arteritis in Poland: a study based on POLVAS registry data.

Slavic populations, such as those in Poland, are considered to have a low prevalence of giant cell arteritis (GCA), although epidemiological data are sparse. The study aimed to compare the reported frequency of GCA in various regions of Poland and analyze the differences between them. We conducted a multicenter, retrospective study of all GCA patients included in the POLVAS registry-the first large multicenter database of patients with vasculitis in Poland. The data from the POLVAS registry were compared with the reported prevalence provided by national insurers from the corresponding regions. A 10-fold increase in the diagnostic rates of GCA was observed in Poland between 2008 and 2019, reaching 8.38 per 100,000 population > 50 years old. It may be attributed to increased interest accompanied by improved diagnostic modalities with the introduction of ultrasound-based, fast-track diagnostic pathways in some centers. However, regional inequities are present, resulting in 10-fold differences (from 2.57 to 24.92) in reported prevalence between different regions. Corticosteroid (CS) monotherapy was the main stem of treatment. Further cooperation and education are needed to minimize regional inequities. This observational study suggests some potential for further increase of the recognizability of GCA and wider use of other than CS monotherapy treatment regimens. We hope that the Polish experience might be interesting and serve as some guidance for the populations where GCA is underdiagnosed.

THE IMPACT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS AND INEQUALITIES ON LABOUR MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

In both developing and developed countries of the world, including Hungary, there are significant inequalities in both health status and the spatial distribution of the health system. Regional inequalities are a major challenge, as areas and regions that are disadvantaged are less able to develop and the people living there have fewer opportunities for economic advancement and better living conditions. Widely discussed in the literature that socio-economic status has a significant impact on the health status of a society. Economic and territorial disparities can be found within a municipality, a county, a region, a country, or even across Europe. In our study, we examine territorial and social inequalities in Hungary, with a special focus on economic, educational and health inequalities. We wanted to answer the question of how these factors might affect the lifestyle and labour market opportunities of the population. In this study, we use data from various sources and databases to illustrate the socio-economic differences and their effects in different regions. Research shows that the demographic situation, together with the ageing of societies, has a significant impact on countries' social security systems, pension systems and health care. Projections in the more advanced EU Member States show an increase in the proportion of people aged eighty-five and over by 2020. Higher educational attainment enhances an individual's social skills, abilities and capabilities and promotes a healthier lifestyle by managing risks more consciously. Various surveys show that only 50% of high school graduates rate their health as good or particularly good, while for those with tertiary education the figure is close to 75%. There is a direct correlation between income and health status. In poor countries in particular, there is a clear link between income levels and mortality rates. Higher income is often associated with better health. In most EU countries, poor people are much more likely to have poor or extremely poor health.

The nexus among digital financial inclusion, monetary policy transmission, and economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa

This paper aims to examine the complex relationship between digital financial inclusion, monetary policy transmission, and economic development in 18 Sub-Saharan African countries from 2004 to 2021. The study utilizes panel data and employs a digital financial inclusion index, broad money growth, and real gross domestic product per capita as proxies for digital financial inclusion, monetary policy transmission, and economic development, respectively. The panel autoregressive distributed lag model results uncover a bi-directional causality between economic development and digital financial inclusion, emphasizing the pivotal role of digital financial inclusion in fostering economic development. Additionally, another bi-directional causality between digital financial inclusion and monetary policy transmission highlights their interdependence. Unidirectional causality from monetary policy transmission to economic development is also established. This study emphasizes the crucial role of robust measures in enhancing digital financial inclusion to avert adverse consequences, offers nuanced insights into policy dynamics, particularly regarding inflation mitigation, and enhances monetary policy effectiveness. These findings underscore the importance of policy reform, legislation, and regulatory improvements to promote digital financial inclusion by Sub-Saharan African central banks. Strengthening rural financial infrastructure is crucial for driving digital financial inclusion, sustainable economic development, and reducing regional inequalities.

Market or State? Post-Reform Distribution of Sociology Faculty at Chinese Universities

Neoliberal policies since 1978 have caused severe regional inequality in China. Cities in regions with high levels of marketisation attract top academic experts due to their proximity to economic incentives and prestigious universities. However, little is known about how economic reform has shaped the distribution of experts in the social science and humanities disciplines as they are less in demand on the market and often rely on support from the state. Using sociology as a unique case, this study investigates market and state influences on the regional distribution of sociology experts in Chinese universities based on city-level measurements. Sociology has a unique historical and paradigmatic connection with the state of China, which complicates any straightforward relationship between neoliberal policies and higher education inequality in sociology departments. Through a manual collection of 1,041 faculty profiles from 66 university websites, it was determined following the fractional logistic regression method that both the market and the state facilitate distribution. The city’s marketisation increases the internationalisation of faculty members in sociology departments, while the city’s position in the state’s administrative hierarchy maintains the sociology departments, regardless of the city’s marketisation. In general, the state still plays an important role in shaping academic expert distribution after 40 years of market reform in China.

Ozone Mortality Burden Changes Driven by Population Aging and Regional Inequity in China in 2013-2050.

Air pollution exposure is closely linked to population age and socioeconomic status. Population aging and imbalance in regional economy are thus anticipated to have important implications on ozone (O3)-related health impacts. Here we provide a driver analysis for O3 mortality burden due to respiratory disease in China over 2013-2050 driven by population aging and regional inequity. Unexpectedly, we find that population aging is estimated to result in dramatic rises in annual O3 mortality burden in China; by 56, 101-137, and 298-485 thousand over the periods 2013-2020, 2020-2030, and 2030-2050, respectively. This reflects the exponential rise in baseline mortality rates with increasing age. The aging-induced mortality burden rise in 2030-2050 is surprisingly large, as it is comparable to the net national mortality burden due to O3 exposure in 2030 (359-399 thousand yr-1). The health impacts of O3 pollution, shown as mortality burden per capita, are inequitably distributed, with more severe effects in less developed provinces than their developed counterparts by 23.1% and 21.5% in 2019 and 2030, respectively. However, the regional inequity in O3 mortality burden is expected to be mitigated in 2050. This temporal variation reflects evolving demographic dividend characterized by a larger proportion of younger individuals in developed regions. These findings are critical for targeted improvement of healthcare services to ensure the sustainability of social development.

‘It depends on where you were born…here in the North East, there’s not really many job opportunities compared to in the South’: young people’s perspectives on a North-South health divide and its drivers in England, UK

BackgroundImproving the public’s understanding of how regional and socioeconomic inequalities create and perpetuate inequalities in health, is argued to be necessary for building support for policies geared towards creating a more equal society. However, research exploring public perceptions of health inequalities, and how they are generated, is limited. This is particularly so for young people. Our study sought to explore young people’s lived experiences and understandings of health inequalities.MethodsWe carried out focus group discussions (n = 18) with 42 young people, aged 13–21, recruited from six youth organisations in England in 2021. The organisations were located in areas of high deprivation in South Yorkshire, the North East and London. Young people from each organisation took part in three interlinked focus group discussions designed to explore their (i) perceptions of factors impacting their health in their local area, (ii) understandings of health inequalities and (iii) priorities for change. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, most discussions took place online (n = 15). However, with one group in the North East, we carried out discussions face-to-face (n = 3). Data were analysed thematically and we used NVivo-12 software to facilitate data management.ResultsYoung people from all groups demonstrated an awareness of a North-South divide in England, UK. They described how disparities in local economies and employment landscapes between the North and the South led to tangible differences in everyday living and working conditions. They clearly articulated how these differences ultimately led to inequalities in people’s health and wellbeing, such as linking poverty and employment precarity to chronic stress. Young people did not believe these inequalities were inevitable. They described the Conservative government as prioritising the South and thus perpetuating inequalities through uneven investment.ConclusionsOur study affords important insights into young people’s perceptions of how wider determinants can help explain the North-South health divide in England. It demonstrates young people’s contextualised understandings of the interplay between spatial, social and health inequalities. Our findings support calls for pro-equity policies to address the structural causes of regional divides in health. Further research, engaging young people in deliberative policy analysis, could build on this work.

Stochastic dominance testing of poverty in Mozambique

AbstractNational assessments produced regularly from 1996/97 to 2019/20 provide standard estimates of the evolution of poverty in Mozambique. Stylised facts point to significant reduction in monetary and multidimensional poverty until 2014/15, even though characterised by persistent urban–rural and regional inequalities in several dimensions, followed by worsening deprivation during 2014/15–2019/20. In this paper, we rely on first-order dominance (FOD) methodology to check the robustness of standard poverty estimates while providing deeper insights into what happened in this poverty-stricken country. Our main findings include that the capital city, Maputo, and surrounding areas progressively came to dominate all other provinces in terms of well-being, and the provincial rankings from spatial FOD analysis are very stable over time. Rural areas, mainly those in the northern and central regions, are, with a few exceptions, always at the bottom of the ranking. Moreover, our FOD temporal analysis reveals that 2019/20 dominates, with a high degree of confidence, the results from earlier years, pointing to positive development over time, but with one important exception. The comparison between 2019/20 and 2014/15 is indeterminate, indicating that no significant advancement took place during this period. What stands out is the compelling need for concerted policy action to address the strong and persistent spatial gaps in welfare and poverty, including the capacity to respond effectively to external and internal shocks.

Innovation and wage inequalities: Evidence from Brazilian regions

AbstractInnovation can lead to wage inequalities through different channels. This paper explores this relationship, focusing on the direct and spillover (indirect) effects of these channels on personal wage inequalities in Brazilian regions. Product and process innovation are measured by patents and the acquisition of foreign technology through imports of capital goods respectively. Based on data that covers 482 regions from 2003 to 2014, we use the Spatial Durbin Model with spatial fixed effects to control spatial dependence and heterogeneity across regions. The results point to a positive association between our measures of innovation and wage inequalities. However, as we found a non‐linear relationship between imports of capital goods and wage inequality, an increase in imports of capital goods may reduce wage inequality. Other variables may also cause inequality to fall, such as the share of the population with a higher education degree and social skills. Drivers behind an increase in inequality are female participation in the workforce and the level of GDP per capita.

Global burden of major depressive disorders attributable to intimate partner violence against women: Magnitude, temporal trends, and regional inequalities

AimsThis study aimed to analyze the temporal trends, spatial heterogeneities, and potential improvements in the burden of major depressive disorders (MDD) attributable to intimate partner violence (IPV) against women across 21 global burden of disease (GBD) regions, and 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019. MethodsWe evaluated the burden of MDD attributable to IPV against women, as measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 100,000 people across 21 GBD regions and 204 GBD countries and territories, using data from the 2019 GBD Study. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) of the DALY age-standardized rates (ASRs) was used to reflect trends over time. LOESS and quantile regression were used to model the relationship between the five GBD sociodemographic index (SDI) categories and DALY ASRs. Frontier analysis determined the minimum achievable DALY ASR associated with developmental status, as measured by the SDI. ResultsThe overall AAPC in age-standardized DALY rates for MDD attributable to IPV declined globally between 1990 and 2019. Despite the overall global decline (AAPC −0.08 [95 % UI −0.2, 0.03]), certain GBD regions, particularly high-income North America and Central Latin America, have experienced increases in DALY ASRs. The relationship between SDI and MDD burden showed a U-shaped variability, with low-SDI regions consistently exhibiting higher and stable DALY rates. Frontier analysis revealed that several countries, regardless of their SDI, have substantial gaps between observed and potentially achievable DALY rates, indicating areas for targeted intervention to reduce the burden of MDD due to IPV. ConclusionsSignificant spatial and temporal heterogeneity in MDD due to IPV was observed globally from 1990 to 2019, highlighting the substantial potential for improvement in various countries. Protective measures should be customized to suit the unique cultural contexts, developmental statuses, and regional disparities of each country.

Wasserstein barycenter regression: application to the joint dynamics of regional GDP and life expectancy in Italy

AbstractWe propose to investigate the joint dynamics of regional gross domestic product and life expectancy in Italy through Wasserstein barycenter regression derived from optimal transport theory. Wasserstein barycenter regression has the advantage of being flexible in modeling complex data distributions, given its ability to capture multimodal relationships, while maintaining the possibility of incorporating uncertainty and priors, other than yielding interpretable results. The main findings reveal that regional clusters tend to emerge, highlighting inequalities in Italian regions in economic and life expectancy terms. This suggests that targeted policy actions at a regional level fostering equitable development, especially from an economic viewpoint, might reduce regional inequality. Our results are validated by a robustness check on a human mobility dataset and by an illustrative forecasting exercise, which confirms the model’s ability to estimate and predict joint distributions and produce novel empirical evidence.