Recent discussion of voting in US elections claims a strong movement of White working-class voters away from voting for Democrats, with much discussion focusing only on elections between 2012 and the present. We examine longer-term trends from 1980 to 2020 in how more and less privileged White voters-measured by household income, education, and occupational class-moved toward or away from voting Democratic. We also explore how these movements changed the shape of the relationships between these three socioeconomic indicators and voting Democratic. We find little evidence of a long-term movement away from Democrats among voters with lower income, less education, or working-class jobs, although there is some evidence of this after 2012. The clearest long-term trend is that voters in the highest decile of income, college graduates, and white-collar workers moved steadily toward voting Democratic across the 40 y. Thus, the change from negative to flat for income's relationship to voting Democratic, and from negative to positive for education's relationship to voting Democratic comes less from a movement of less privileged voters away from Democratic voting and more from a long-term movement of those in the top decile of income, college graduates, and white-collar workers toward voting Democratic. Whether the post-2012 movement away from voting Democratic among voters without a high school degree and in working-class jobs becomes an enduring trend or is idiosyncratic to Trump's candidacy is an important question for future research.

This study examined the relative profitability and income disparities between fully and partially transformed farmers in Tarakanda and Phulpur upazilas of Mymensingh district. A purposive random sampling technique was employed to select 120 farmers, evenly split between fully transformed and partially transformed groups. Using descriptive statistics, t-tests, the Gini coefficient, and Lorenz curve analysis, the study explored the differences between these two farmer groups. Results revealed that fully transformed farmers were younger (35-45 years) and had higher educational levels than their partially transformed counterparts. Fully transformed rice farmers were found to be significantly more profitable, with a notable difference in net returns. However, income inequality was higher among fully transformed farmers, as reflected by a Gini coefficient of 0.43 compared to 0.35 for partially transformed farmers. The study also identified lower profitability and labor intensity as key drivers for farmers transitioning from rice farming to fish farming.

Well-being is linked to income. However, lower well-being among lower-income individuals may reflect either economic relative deprivation or the lower social status associated with a lower income rank. Here, using Gallup World Poll data from 109 countries and over 90,000 individuals, we test a general model that includes both relative income deprivation and income rank as special cases. In 80% of countries, subjective well-being is more strongly associated with within-nation rank of income than with absolute income or relative income deprivation. Income rank coefficients are over three times larger in the most materialistic countries, but smaller in countries with higher social capital: In countries with the highest civic engagement, the association between income rank and well-being is about 80% smaller. Results replicated in multiple survey years and are consistent with a link between income-related social status and subjective well-being that is stronger when social capital is low.

ABSTRACT Agricultural technological progress is often viewed as a technical solution to productivity constraints, but its broader socio-economic implications remain underexplored. This study investigates the gendered impact of mechanization on labor allocation and women’s well-being in rural China. Using nationally representative data from Chinese micro-farmers, we find that mechanization reduces agricultural labor time for both men and women. However, only men benefit from increased non-agricultural employment opportunities, while women remain largely excluded. Despite this asymmetry, mechanization significantly improves women’s subjective well-being – measured by life satisfaction, leisure time, and household decision-making power – especially among those with higher relative incomes. These findings suggest that mechanization operates not merely as a production tool, but as a socially transformative force – challenging entrenched gender norms and shifting the power dynamics within rural families. We argue that the technological modernization of agriculture holds profound implications for gender equity and rural social change.

Abstract This study examines the gender norm that “a wife should not earn more than her husband” and its impact on women’s labor market behavior in a traditional, developing country context, using ten annual waves of Household Labor Force Statistics data from Türkiye (2014–2023) covering 1,053,258 couples. The study first analyzes the distribution of wives’ relative income—the share of a couple’s income earned by the wife—using regression discontinuity analysis, addressing a gap in empirical research on gender identity and economic behavior in emerging economies. Results reveal a sharp drop at the threshold where the wife’s income exceeds her husband’s, indicating that couples tend to avoid such scenarios. Second, to examine wives’ labor force participation and the gap between actual and potential earnings, generalized linear models and a quantile-based approach are applied, offering a methodological contribution in this context. Findings show that the probability of a wife out-earning her husband significantly reduces her likelihood of labor force participation. Wives earning below their potential are more likely to adjust their earnings downward, while high-earning wives appear less constrained. Although the influence of gender identity norms has weakened over time in relative income and participation, its impact on the income gap has intensified, highlighting a growing divide between lower- and higher-earning women. Promoting gender-equal attitudes, expanding women’s employment opportunities, and providing targeted training programs for low-income women would help reduce the persistence of traditional gender norms in Türkiye’s labor market.

Gendered reporting of housework across relative spousal income

ABSTRACT Micro/mesoplastic (M/MP) pollution has become a critical stressor degrading beach quality, particularly in densely urbanized coastal settings. This study quantitatively assesses the impact of M/MP pollution on beach recreation demand and related local income. In metropolitan coastal areas such as Istanbul, increasing M/MP loads diminish perceived hygiene and aesthetic quality, alter visitor behavior, and generate measurable losses in cultural ecosystem services, including recreation and scenic value. Based on this hypothesis, (i) a multi-beach travel cost site-selection model (random utility, mixed logit) to incorporate M/MP density as an environmental quality attribute; and (ii) a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to estimate conditional willingness-to-pay (WTP) for enhanced beach cleanliness and hygiene, were applied. Changes in visitor welfare and reductions in regional expenditures were translated into local income effects using input–output multipliers. Results indicate that higher M/MP concentrations significantly reduce visit probability and per-capita spending. At Florya Beach, characterized by higher M/MP density (1.2 particles/m²), net welfare effects were negative (−0.80), whereas the lower-density Büyükçekmece Beach (0.58 particles/m²) exhibited a positive welfare change (+1.11). Visitors expressed a mean WTP of approximately 40 TL for improved cleanliness. To our knowledge, this is the first study in Turkey to evaluate M/MP-driven recreational losses using advanced econometric modeling. Overall, findings demonstrate that rising M/MP densities erode recreational demand and regional spending, while positive WTP signals that targeted policy interventions—such as increased cleaning frequency and upstream pollution reduction—may yield net welfare gains. Keywords: travel cost method, discrete choice experiment, micro/mesoplastic

Cities are composed of heterogeneous local contexts. This study investigates whether and how the well-being of urban dwellers is influenced by spatially structured contextual exposure within a localized area. Using geocoded survey data from the Hong Kong Panel Study of Social Dynamics, matched with official neighborhood-level statistics, we pay special attention to relative neighborhood income (RNI), an inter-neighborhood comparison reflecting a neighborhood’s relative income position compared with adjacent neighborhoods. The results show that living in neighborhoods with poorer income positions relates to lower subjective well-being (SWB). A positive change in RNI over time significantly enhances SWB, whereas a negative temporal change is not linked with a proportional decrease. We also find empirical support for Dusenberry’s hypothesis that relative household income (a household’s relative income position within the residential neighborhood) positively relates to SWB, with the effects of upward comparisons being more pronounced. The findings underscore the contextual effects of places that extend beyond individuals’ immediate residential neighborhoods and highlight their importance in neighborhood research.

ABSTRACT As many other affluent welfare states, Belgium experienced no structural decline in relative income poverty among the working‐age population during the three decades preceding the pandemic. Since the late‐1980s, relative income poverty stagnated or even increased, despite favourable trends such as rising employment rates, growing household incomes, and substantial social spending. This was the case in all the three regions of the country, but particularly so in Brussels and Wallonia. Using a shift‐share counterfactual analysis, this study investigates to what extent long‐term socio‐demographic changes—particularly the rise in single‐adult, dual‐earner households, and migration—might explain the stagnation in working‐age income poverty during a period when welfare states shifted towards activation and social investment. The findings indicate that socio‐demographic changes had only a limited theoretical effect on poverty. In Flanders, the growing share of two‐earner families compensated for the increase in the share of single and lone parent families. In contrast, this compensatory dynamic was absent in Wallonia, partially explaining the notable rise in working‐age relative income poverty in this specific region. Migration had a poverty‐increasing effect across all regions, especially in Brussels, where non‐nationals increased sharply. Overall, these results suggest that socio‐demographic shifts cannot fully account for the stagnation in working‐age poverty. The study shows that disappointing poverty trends cannot be explained by demographic developments, and that the link between poverty and tax–benefit models is more complex than often assumed. Therefore, country‐level analyses may obscure important subnational variations and lead to misinterpretations in cross‐national comparisons.

Dynamics of drug overdose deaths in the United States during COVID-19.

ABSTRACT Disability imposes substantial social and economic costs, particularly in developed countries like Australia. In this paper, we estimate the longitudinal association between the onset of hearing loss and both earnings and income using panel data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey. We used the propensity score matching with difference-in-difference (PSM-DID) method to estimate how the onset of hearing loss influences longitudinal earnings and income. We applied fixed-effect regression to estimate relative earnings and income mobility before and after the onset of hearing loss. We conducted a subgroup analysis to investigate sociodemographic heterogeneity in hearing loss-associated earnings and income dynamics over time. We found that the onset of hearing loss is associated with a significant decline in earnings and income, even 15 years after the onset of hearing loss. Our findings indicate that earnings and income losses were more pronounced among socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals. These findings have significant implications for informing policy aimed at supporting the economic well-being of individuals with hearing loss.

Abstract The EU has embarked on an ambitious path toward climate neutrality. How difficult will this transition be for the population as a whole and different subsets of consumers? This paper investigates this question using a dynamic general equilibrium model that captures a key feature of energy consumption: the relative energy content in one’s consumption basket falls significantly as a function of one’s relative income. Thus, low-income consumers are expected to be hit harder by the higher energy prices that we anticipate over the next few decades. In the model, energy—a complementary input to capital and labour—can be produced either using fossil fuel or a “green” technology. We represent the EU policy in terms of a tax on fossil fuel and show that the European Commission’s Fit-for-55 package implies a 106.4% tax on the fossil-based technology. The output losses from this tax are substantial, and GDP is 6.3% lower in the new steady state. The burden falls primarily on the lowest-income agent who represents the first income quintile and is 47% more worse off than the highest-income agent representing the fifth quintile. The output losses can almost be cut in half if the economy achieves a simultaneous increase in energy efficiency as outlined in the Fit-for-55 package.

Associations between individual housing cost burden and depressive symptoms by relative income: A 13-wave panel study.

Re-thinking Walkability: Synergizing the Pedestrian Environment and Land Use Patterns to Promote Physical Activity in Older Adults.

Obesity is a complex public health issue that has risen to epidemic proportions globally. The aim of this study was to estimate the economic costs associated with obesity from governmental and societal perspectives in the State of Kuwait in 2024. A disease-specific prevalence-based cost-of-illness framework was applied. Key parameters include prevalence of obesity and its related comorbidities, relative risks, healthcare resources, income rate and growth, and lost workdays for patients and relatives, all were derived from literature. The outcomes measured were total healthcare costs, societal costs, and cost per patient, all reported in 2024 Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD), United States dollar ($), and Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). In 2024, there were approximately 2 million morbidity cases and 961 mortality cases directly attributed to obesity in Kuwait. The economic burden of obesity was estimated at KWD 4.3 billion ($ 14 billion; PPP$ 21.6 billion) from societal perspective and KWD 3.9 billion ($12.8 billion, PPP 19.7 billion) from governmental perspective, almost 1.3 times healthcare budget. The mean annual societal cost per patient was KWD 1,737 ($5,676; PPP 8,729)-17.6% of 2024 Kuwaiti gross domestic product per capita. Furthermore, the mean direct medical cost per patient was KWD 1,586 ($5,184 or PPP 7,972); comprised 3 times the healthcare expenditure per capita. Obesity and its comorbidities impose a far greater health and economic burden on Kuwait's healthcare system and national productivity than previously recognized. This study calls for a paradigm shift toward early prevention, culturally tailored strategies, and comprehensive disease management. Expanding access to emerging innovative treatments and leveraging technology-driven tools are essential to support sustained weight management and reduce long-term impacts.

Rising consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in India is a significant public health challenge, contributing to obesity, type 2 diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). SSB-attributable deaths exceed 10,000 annually. The associated economic burden is projected to reach 2.47% of India's gross domestic product (GDP) by 2060. This study evaluates the impact of taxation as a policy instrument to reduce SSB consumption in India. Data from the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) 2022-23 household survey and Euromonitor retail sales data were used. SSB affordability was measured using the relative income price (RIP). A three-stage econometric model following Deaton's methodology was applied to estimate own price, cross-price and income elasticities using cross-sectional data. These estimates were used to simulate the effect of a uniform tax increase. Between 2015 and 2024, SSB affordability increased by 33%. The overall own-price elasticity was estimated at -0.8, with low-income households showing greater responsiveness (-0.97) than high-income groups (-0.77). Overall income elasticity was 0.48, rising to 0.59 for high-income households. Low-income households allocate a higher budget share (2.01%) to SSBs than high-income households (1.22%). Tax simulations suggest that a new 18.5% ad valorem excise tax could reduce consumption by ∼10% and increase annual tax revenue by 50%. A uniform 40% peak Goods and Services Tax (GST) had a smaller consumption impact. Findings support implementing excise taxes based on sugar content and a harmonized tax structure across SSBs. Evidence-informed fiscal policies are essential to mitigate NCD risks, as failure to act risks reinforcing harmful consumption patterns.

Children with developmental delays face significant health challenges, including oral health problems, that disrupt dietary habits and contribute to food insufficiency. To examine the association between oral health problems and food insufficiency among children with developmental delays. Cross-sectional design using the 2022 National Survey of Children's Health database. National survey. Participants were 1,483 children ages 3-17 yr with developmental delays. Food insufficiency was rated on a 4-point scale and oral health problems as problem present versus no problem. The ordinal logistic regression models were adjusted for child, health, and socioeconomic variables. Among participants, 26.2% had oral health problems. Oral health problems were significantly associated with food insufficiency (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.14, 2.60]). Poor maternal mental health (AOR = 4.14, 95% CI [2.24, 7.68]) and low-income households (AOR = 9.82, 95% CI [5.00, 19.36]) were strongly associated with food insufficiency. Findings demonstrate that oral health problems, maternal mental health, and socioeconomic disparities are interrelated determinants of food insufficiency among children with developmental delays. Occupational therapists can address these issues through caregiver training and advocacy to enhance access to oral health and nutritional resources. Plain-Language Summary: Children with developmental delays frequently experience oral health issues, such as cavities and chewing difficulties, which are linked with poor nutrition and food insufficiency. Using national survey data, this study examined associations among oral health problems, maternal mental health, and family income in relation to food insufficiency. Findings indicate that food insufficiency was more often reported when children had oral health problems, particularly among families with low income or mothers with poor mental health. These results highlight the need for accessible dental care, caregiver support, and food assistance programs. Occupational therapists can support families by promoting oral health strategies, stress management, and resource connections to strengthen food sufficiency and overall health.

(A)symmetries in beauty-status exchange: Spousal relative income and partners' BMI (at) during marriage.

Abstract Prior research generally finds a positive association between income and well-being. This work builds on absolute and relative deprivation theories. By modeling absolute and relative income, this study examines whether these measures differ in association with late-life depressive symptoms and evaluates the role of employment. Data come from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP). Respondents reported baseline absolute income alongside income relative to other Americans and their broader social network. After controlling for covariates and baseline depressive symptoms, the association between income and later-life depressive symptoms was examined using linear regression. Five years after baseline, income relative to other Americans was significantly associated with increases in depressive symptoms (β = .432, p = .031), with no evidence of variation by baseline employment. Ten years after baseline, both income relative to other Americans (β = .760, p = .003) and relative to one’s own network (β =.598, p = .027) were significantly associated with increases in depressive symptoms. Interactions with employment were significant, indicating a reversal in the direction of these associations among those employed at baseline. These preliminary results suggest relative income may better predict depressive symptoms over time than absolute income. Further, both relative income measures suggest higher income is linked to reductions in depressive symptoms for those working during baseline. In comparison, higher income is associated with increased symptoms for those not working. Future research will explore how depressive and other mental health trajectories evolve based on income measures, employment transitions, and potential non-linear associations.

Abstract The risk of cognitive impairment and dementia is greater among people with lower socioeconomic status (SES). SES is a multifaceted factor encompassing many potential pathways influencing brain structure but is often measured using single variables. Adverse brain features in midlife are associated with faster cognitive aging. We estimated the association between white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes and three SES measures: household income, income relative to neighborhood average, and subjective SES in a middle-aged cohort. We fit a series of linear regression models estimating the associations between SES and log-transformed WMHs controlling for age, educational attainment, race/ethnicity. We tested effect measure modification by sex using its interaction with SES measures. Our sample (N = 191) was 40% male, primarily White (84%), and highly educated (88% bachelor’s degree or higher), with a mean age of 42 (SD: 9). We found no associations between total overall WMHs and household income or relative income. Women with higher subjective SES had smaller total overall WMH volume (log-transformed sex*subjective SES β: -0.26, 95% CI: -0.44 – -0.08) but there was no significant association in men. We also found that men with higher subjective SES had larger deep WMH volumes (log-transformed β: 0.55, 95% CI 0.17 – 0.92), while women with higher subjective SES had smaller deep WMH volumes (log-transformed sex* subjective SES β: -0.40, 95% CI: -0.61 – -0.18). Only subjective SES was associated with WMH. We also identified sex differences, as the association between subjective SES and deep WMHs was positive for men but negative for women.