Trends In Inequality Research Articles

Inequalities in health complaints: 20-year trends among adolescents in Scotland, 1998-2018.

This study examined trends in inequalities in health complaints among early adolescents in Scotland from 1998 to 2018. We analysed data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey conducted in Scotland in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018. A self-report questionnaire was administered in schools to a nationally representative sample of 11-, 13-, and 15-year-olds (n = 29,250). Health complaints were measured using a scale comprising four psychological symptoms (feeling low, feeling nervous, irritability and sleep difficulties) and four somatic symptoms (headache, backache, stomachache and dizziness). Socio-economic status was measured using the Family Affluence Scale. Between 1998 and 2018, there were significant increases in the proportion of girls and boys reporting feeling low, feeling nervous, sleep difficulties and backache. Prevalence of the eight individual health complaints was higher among girls and adolescents from lower affluence families. Socio-economic inequalities increased over time, such that declines in mental health were greatest among low affluence adolescents. The data show worsening trends in health complaints among Scottish adolescents between 1998 and 2018, particularly for girls and adolescents from low affluence families. Increasing inequalities in mental health highlight the need to address the underlying social and structural determinants of adolescent mental health.

Study on the Spatial Differences, Dynamic Evolution and Convergence of Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Reducing carbon emissions is essential for global sustainable development and has become a key concern around the world. In this study, we analyzed the spatial differences, dynamic evolution and convergence characteristics of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 92 countries from 1990 to 2021. The Dagum Gini coefficient, Kernel density analysis, Markov chain analysis and fixed effect model were used in this study. The results showed that, from the perspective of overall differences, the overall differences in global CO2 emissions during the study period showed a gradually increasing trend, and the inequality trend became more and more obvious. Based on the perspective of distribution dynamics, there is an obvious spatial disequilibrium of global CO2 emissions. In terms of the evolution law, its distribution dynamic law is relatively stable, the relative position of CO2 emissions is relatively stable, and different groups transfer to themselves with a greater probability. There is no obvious σ convergence in global CO2 emissions, but there is absolute β convergence. This study innovatively analyzed the differential characteristics of carbon dioxide emissions from a global perspective. The research results can provide a reference for clarifying countries’ carbon emission reduction responsibilities and promoting the green transformation of the global economy.

The income-related distribution of cognitive function and its mobility among the Chinese elderly over a 14-year period.

With population ageing, cognitive function among the elderly is a growing public health concern in China. This study aimed to investigate the trend of income-related inequality in cognitive function, and to track health-related income mobility among the Chinese elderly. Data were drawn from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey conducted in 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2018. Cognitive function was evaluated by the Mini-Mental State Examination. Cross-sectional and longitudinal concentration indices were used to measure the magnitudes of inequalities at different length of time. The mobility index was used to capture the discrepancy between short-term and long-term assessments. The contributions of determinants to mobility were estimated by decomposition analysis. The results showed the cognitive function score among the Chinese elderly as 21.13 at the baseline. Men, activities, daily living ability, education, marriage status, income, receipt of community service, vision and hearing condition were positively associated with cognitive function, whereas age, negative well-being, and drinking were negatively associated with cognitive function. The cross-sectional concentration index was positive and significant only at the baseline. In the long run, however, the concentration indices were all positive and became larger over time. After five waves, the mobility index reached -4.84. The largest negative contributor to the mobility index was daily living ability, followed by relaxing activity, domestic activity, and hearing condition. The two largest positive contributors were negative well-being and income. As a whole, cognitive function did not perform well among the Chinese elderly. In the long term, the weighted cross-sectional concentration indices underestimated the inequality in cognitive function, and good cognitive performance was concentrated more among the rich. When formulating intervention measures, the Chinese government should give priority to vulnerable groups, especially the elderly who are poor or downwardly mobile in income.

Measuring the inequalities in healthcare resource in facility and workforce: A longitudinal study in China.

The study aimed to measure time trends of inequalities of the geographical distribution of health facilities and workforce in Shanghai from 2010 to 2016 and used a spatial autocorrelation analysis method to precisely detect the priority areas for optimizing health resource reallocation in metropolises like Shanghai in developing countries. The study used secondary data from the Shanghai Health Statistical Yearbook and the Shanghai Statistical Yearbook from 2011 to 2017. Five indicators on health resources, namely, health institutions, beds, technicians, doctors, and nurses, were employed to quantitatively measure the healthcare resource in Shanghai. The Theil index and the Gini coefficient were applied to assess the global inequalities in the geographic distribution of these resources in Shanghai. Global and local spatial autocorrelation was performed using global Moran's index and local Moran's index to illustrate the spatial changing patterns and identify the priority areas for two types of healthcare resource allocation. Shanghai's healthcare resources showed decreasing trends of inequalities at large from 2010 to 2016. However, there still existed an unchanged over-concentration distribution in healthcare facilities and workforce density among districts in Shanghai, especially for doctors at the municipal level and facility allocation at the rural level. Through spatial autocorrelation analysis, it was found that there exhibited a significant spatial autocorrelation in the density distribution of all resources, and some identified priority areas were detected for resource re-allocation policy planning. The study identified the existence of inequality in some healthcare resource allocations in Shanghai from 2010 to 2016. Hence, more detailed area-specific healthcare resource planning and distribution policies are required to balance the health workforce distribution at the municipal level and institution distribution at the rural level, and particular geographical areas (low-low and low-high cluster areas) should be focused on and fully considered across all the policies and regional cooperation to ensure health equality for municipal cities like Shanghai in developing countries.

Levels and trends in key socioeconomic inequalities in childhood undernutrition in Ethiopia: evidence from Ethiopia demographic and health surveys 2000-2019

IntroductionThe global burden of childhood undernutrition is mainly concentrated in low-income and lower-middle-income countries. In Ethiopia, childhood undernutrition varies significantly across different population groups. The present study is aimed at examining the levels and trends in key socioeconomic inequalities in childhood undernutrition in Ethiopia.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was based on a total pooled sample of 48,782 under-five children drawn from five rounds of the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys (2000–2019). We used multilevel binary logistic regression analysis to determine the key socioeconomic determinants of undernutrition among under five children. In addition, we applied concentration index and decomposition rate analysis techniques to explore the levels and trends in key socioeconomic inequalities in childhood undernutrition.ResultsPlace of residence, household wealth status (approximated by asset-based wealth index), and maternal education, among others, were the key socioeconomic variables significantly associated (p < 0.001) with childhood undernutrition in Ethiopia. The level of inequality was the highest with children from rural areas, poor households and uneducated mothers. Absolute socioeconomic inequality in childhood undernutrition prevalence rate was declined by 9.72 during the study period (2000 to 2019).ConclusionChildhood undernutrition was unequally distributed among under-five children in Ethiopia, and largely concentrated among low socioeconomic status population groups. The identified key socioeconomic drivers of inequality in childhood undernutrition can be used to inform localized interventions and communication strategies to improve nutritional status of under-five children in Ethiopia. The study underscores development of poverty reduction strategies that directly address the existing challenges of the food insecurity and childhood undernutrition for the low-income population groups in the country.

Higher education and high-wage gender inequality

Over the past 60 years, we have witnessed a relocation of gender wage inequality. Whereas the largest wage gaps were once concentrated among lower-paid, lower-educated workers, today these wage gaps sit among the highest-paid, highly-educated workers. Given this reordering of gender wage inequality and the centrality of college graduates to total inequality trends, in this article, we assess the contribution of higher education mechanisms to top-end gender inequality. Specifically, we use Census and ACS data along with unique decomposition models to assess the extent to which two mechanisms rooted in higher education—bachelor’s-level fields of study and the attainment of advanced degrees—can account for the gender wage gap across the wage distribution. Results from these decomposition models show that while these explanatory mechanisms fare well among bottom and middle wages, their explanatory power breaks down among the highest-paid college workers. We conclude that women’s attainment of “different” education (via fields of study) or “more” education (via advanced degrees) would do little to close the gender wage gaps that are contributing most to contemporary wage inequality trends. We suggest some directions for future research, and we also take seriously the role of discriminatory pay-setting at the top of the wage distribution.

Trends in socioeconomic inequalities in obesity among Korean adolescents: the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS) 2006 to 2020.

This study investigated recent trends in the prevalence of obesity among Korean adolescents and explored socioeconomic disparities in obesity. This study used annual self-reported data on height, weight, and socioeconomic information from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey from 2006 to 2020. With a 95.8% response rate, the sample consisted of 818,210 adolescents. Obesity prevalence was calculated according to 4 socioeconomic indicators (household income, father's educational attainment, mother's educational attainment, and urbanicity). Socioeconomic inequality was quantified using the relative index of inequality (RII). The overall prevalence of obesity increased, doubling from 5.9% in 2006 to 11.7% in 2020. Boys and high school students showed a higher prevalence. The RIIs in household income and parental educational attainments significantly increased with time, indicating a growing inequality in obesity. Socioeconomic disadvantages had a greater influence on obesity among girls. The most recent RII values for boys were 1.25 for income, 1.79 for the father's education, and 1.45 for the mother's education, whereas the corresponding values for girls were 2.49, 3.17, and 2.62, respectively. These findings highlight growing inequalities in adolescent obesity according to household income and parental educational attainments, especially for girls and middle schoolers.

How well does the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation identify income and employment deprived individuals across the urban-rural spectrum and between local authorities?

BackgroundArea-based indices of deprivation are used to identify populations at need, to inform service planning and policy, to rank populations for monitoring trends in inequalities, and to evaluate the impacts of interventions. There is scepticism of the utility of area deprivation indices in rural areas because of the spatial heterogeneity of their populations. ObjectiveTo compare the sensitivity of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) for detecting income and employment deprived individuals by urban-rural classification and across local authorities. Study designDescriptive analysis of cross-sectional data. MethodsData from the 2020 Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) were used to calculate the number and percentage of income and employment deprived people missed within each of the six-fold urban-rural classification strata and each local authority using areas ranked by the national SIMD, within local authority rankings, and within urban-rural strata rankings, for deprivation thresholds between the 5% most deprived areas and the 30% most deprived areas. The Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and Relative Index of Inequality (RII) were calculated within local authorities and urban-rural classification strata to estimate the concentration of deprivation within ranked data zones. ResultsThe number and percentage of income and employment deprived people is higher in urban than rural areas. However, using the national, local authority, and within urban-rural classification strata rankings of SIMD, and under all deprivation thresholds (from the 5%–30% most deprived areas), the percentage of income and employment deprived people missed by targeting the most deprived areas within urban-rural strata is higher in more remote and rural areas, and in island local authorities. The absolute number of income and employment deprived individuals is greater in urban areas across rankings and thresholds. ConclusionThe SIMD misses a higher percentage of income and employment deprived people in remote, rural and island areas across deprivation thresholds and irrespective of whether national, local or within urban-rural classification strata are used. However, the absolute number of people missed is higher in urban areas.

Within-Country Inequality in COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage: A Scoping Review of Academic Literature.

Since December 2020, COVID-19 vaccines have become increasingly available to populations around the globe. A growing body of research has characterised inequalities in COVID-19 vaccination coverage. This scoping review aims to locate, select and assess research articles that report on within-country inequalities in COVID-19 vaccination coverage, and to provide a preliminary overview of inequality trends for selected dimensions of inequality. We applied a systematic search strategy across electronic databases with no language or date restrictions. Our inclusion criteria specified research articles or reports that analysed inequality in COVID-19 vaccination coverage according to one or more socioeconomic, demographic or geographic dimension of inequality. We developed a data extraction template to compile findings. The scoping review was carried out using the PRISMA-ScR checklist. A total of 167 articles met our inclusion criteria, of which half (n = 83) were conducted in the United States. Articles focused on vaccine initiation, full vaccination and/or receipt of booster. Diverse dimensions of inequality were explored, most frequently relating to age (n = 127 articles), race/ethnicity (n = 117 articles) and sex/gender (n = 103 articles). Preliminary assessments of inequality trends showed higher coverage among older population groups, with mixed findings for sex/gender. Global research efforts should be expanded across settings to understand patterns of inequality and strengthen equity in vaccine policies, planning and implementation.

Measuring top income shares in the UK

Abstract Information about the share of total income held by the richest 1%, or other top income groups, is increasingly used to discuss inequality levels and trends within and between nations. A top income share is the ratio of the total income held by the top income group divided by total personal income (the ‘income control total’). We compare two approaches to estimating income control totals: the ‘external’ approach used by the World Inequality Database, and an augmented ‘internal’ approach. We argue in favour of the latter, with reference to five desirable properties that a top share series would ideally possess. The choice matters: our augmented ‘internal’ approach yields estimates of the UK top 1% share that are around 2% points higher than the ‘external’ approach.

Sixteen-year trends in multiple lifestyle risk behaviours by socioeconomic status from 2004 to 2019 in New South Wales, Australia.

Few studies have examined trends in inequalities related to lifestyle risk behaviours. This study examined 1) 16-year (2004-2019) trends of individual lifestyle risk factors and a combined lifestyle risk index and 2) trends in socioeconomic inequalities in these risk factors, in New South Wales (NSW; Australia) adults. Data was sourced from the NSW Adult Population Health Survey, an annual telephone survey of NSW residents aged ≥16 years, totalling 191,905 completed surveys. Excessive alcohol consumption, current smoking, insufficient physical activity, insufficient fruit and/or vegetable consumption, sugar-sweetened beverage [SSB] consumption, and a combined lifestyle risk index (overall high-risk lifestyle defined as total number of lifestyle risk behaviours ≥2) were examined. Socioeconomic status was assessed using education attainment, postal area-level disadvantage measured by Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage (IRSD), and remoteness based on Accessibility-Remoteness Index of Australia Plus (ARIA+). Socioeconomic inequalities were examined as prevalence difference for absolute inequalities and prevalence ratio for relative inequalities. The prevalence of lifestyle behaviours by levels of each socioeconomic status variable were estimated using predicted probabilities from logistic regression models. After adjusting for covariates, there was a decrease in prevalence over time for most lifestyle risk behaviours. Between 2004 and 2019, the prevalence decreased for current smoking from 21.8% to 17.1%, insufficient physical activity from 39.1% to 30.9%, excessive alcohol consumption from 15.4% to 13.7%, daily SSB consumption from 29.9% to 21.2%, and overall high-risk lifestyle from 50.4% to 43.7%. Socioeconomic inequalities, based on one or more of the socioeconomic variables, increased over time for current smoking, insufficient physical activity, daily SSB consumption, and an overall high-risk lifestyle. Overall, the health behaviours of the NSW population improved between 2004 and 2019. However, some socioeconomic inequalities increased during this time, highlighting the need for effective public health strategies that seek to improve health behaviours among the most socioeconomically disadvantaged.

Age, geographical and socio-economic related inequalities in contraceptive prevalence: evidence from the 1993–2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys

BackgroundContraceptives afford individuals the opportunity to meet their reproductive needs and reduce maternal mortality. We aimed at assessing the trend and inequalities of contraceptive use in Ghana based on the 1993–2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys.MethodsWe used the World Health Organization’s Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) software in analysing the data. We adopted two approaches for the analysis. First, we disaggregated inequalities in contraceptive use using four equity stratifiers: wealth index, education, residence, and region. Second, summary measures (D), (PAR), (R), and (PAF) were also employed. A 95% uncertainty interval (UI) was constructed for point estimates to measure statistical significance.ResultsContraceptive prevalence increased from 20.3% in 1993 to 26.7% in 2014. The contraceptive prevalence among women aged 20–49 increased from 20.6% [95% UI = 19.1, 22.3] in 1993 to 26.8% [95% UI = 24.9, 28.9] in 2014 and this exceeded the increase that was recorded among those aged 15–19 (from 13% [95 UI = 8.7, 19] to 18% [95% UI = 11.5, 28.6]), in the same period. It was evident that substantial inequality existed with respect to contraceptive use, from 1993 to 2014, with widest inequality occurring in 2003 (PAF = 2.7, 95% UI = -16.6–21.9; D = 17.4, 95% UI = 12.7–22.1). In terms of wealth index, the least inequality was observed in 2014 (PAR = 1.3, 95% UI = -1–3.6; D = 5.9, 95% UI = -0.1–12). Regarding education, the widest inequality occurred in 1993 (PAF = 138.6, UI = 132.1–145.1; D = 40.1, 95% UI = 34.4–45.9). With place of residence, the widest gap in inequality occurred in 1993 (PAF = 51.2, 95% UI = 46.2–56.3; D = 15.3, 95% UI = 11.8–18.7). There was inequality in contraceptive use with respect to sub-national regions. In 2014, the Difference (D = 21, 95% UI = 14.6–27.4) and the PAF (PAF = 20.9, 95% UI = 11.2 − 30.5) measures revealed substantial absolute and relative regional inequality between the regions.ConclusionThere was a steady increase in contraceptive use from 20.3% in 1993 to 26.7% in 2014. Nevertheless, the percentage change is minimal. The trends of inequality indicate that inequalities in contraceptive use was evident across the dimension of age, place of residence, wealth index, education, and region. Yet, there was a substantial reduction in inequalities related to contraceptive use in 2014. Therefore, targeting adolescents, women in rural areas, low wealth quintile, and those with no formal education is key to substantially improving contraceptive use across the country.

Trends in health and health inequality during the Japanese economic stagnation: Implications for a healthy planet

IntroductionHuman health and wellbeing may depend on economic growth, the implication being that policymakers need to choose between population health and the health of ecosystems. Over two decades of low economic growth, Japan's life expectancy grew. Here we assess the temporal changes of subjective health and health inequality during the long-term low economic growth period. MethodsEight triennial cross-sectional nationally representative surveys in Japan over the period of economic stagnation from 1992 to 2013 were used (n = 625,262). Health is defined positively as wellbeing, and negatively as poor health, based on self-rated health. We used Slope and Relative Indices of Inequality to model inequalities in self-rated health based on household income. Temporal changes in health and health inequalities over time were examined separately for children/adolescents, working-age adults, young-old and old-old. ResultsAt the end of the period of economic stagnation (2013), compared to the beginning (1992), the overall prevalence of wellbeing declined slightly in all age groups. However, poor health was stable or declined in the young-old and old-old, respectively, and increased only in working-age adults (Prevalence ratio: 1.14, 95% CI 1.08, 1.20, <0.001). Over time, inequality in wellbeing and poor self-rated health were observed in adults but less consistently for children, but the inequalities did not widen in any age group between the start and end of the stagnation period. ConclusionsAlthough this study was a case study of one country, Japan, and inference to other countries cannot be made with certainty, the findings provide evidence that low economic growth over two decades did not inevitably translate to unfavourable population health. Japanese health inequalities according to income were stable during the study period. Therefore, this study highlighted the possibility that for high-income countries, low economic growth may be compatible with good population health.

A Novel Methodological Approach to Measure Linear Trends in Health Inequalities: Proof of Concept With Adolescent Smoking in Europe.

We describe a new method for presenting and interpreting linear trends in health inequalities, and present a proof-of-concept analysis of inequalities in smoking among adolescents in Europe. We estimated the regression line of the assumed linear relationship between smoking prevalence in low- and high-socioeconomic status (SES) youth over time. Using simulation, we constructed a 95% confidence interval (CI) for the smoking prevalence in low-SES youth for when this would be 0% in high-SES youth, and we calculated the likelihood of eradicating smoking inequality (<5% for both low and high SES). This method was applied to data on adolescents aged 15-16 years (n= 250,326) from 23 European countries, derived from the 2003-2015 European Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs. Smoking prevalence decreased more slowly among low- than among high-SES adolescents. The estimated smoking prevalence was 9.4% (95% CI: 6.1, 12.7) for boys and 5.4% (95% CI: 1.4, 9.2) for girls with low SES when 0% with high SES. The likelihood of eradicating smoking inequality was <1% for boys and 37% for girls. We conclude that this novel methodological approach to trends in health inequalities is feasible in practice. Applying it to trends in smoking inequalities among adolescents in Europe, we found that Europe is currently not on track to eradicate youth smoking across SES groups.

Trend of inequalities in the performance of mammography in Brazilian capitals in the last ten years

The objective was to verify the trend of inequality in the realization of mammography exam according to the possession of health insurance plan and schooling from data from the period 2011 to 2020 of VIGITEL. Population-based study with data from the Surveillance System of Risk and Protection Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (VIGITEL) between 2011 and 2020. Outcome: mammography exam in the last 2 years in women aged 50 to 69 years. The magnitude of inequalities of outcome in relation to exposures (health insurance plan and education) was estimated using two indices: inequality slope index (SII) and concentration index (CIX). The prevalence of mammography exam (2011-2020) increased from 74,4% to 78,0%, with a stable trend. The prevalence of those with health insurance plan were 85,7% and 86,4%, and without 63.4% and 71.2%, with an increasing trend. According to education, women with 0-8 years of schooling the prevalence increased from 68,2% to 72,6%, 9-11 years from 80,4% to 80,0% (decreasing trend), 12 years or more 88,0% to 86,6% (decreasing trend). As for the absolute (SII) and relative (CIX) inequality indices of schooling and health insurance plan show that there is a decrease in inequality over the last 10 years.

Economic contraction and inequality of two provinces with coastal characteristics in Sumatra: what are the causes?

The aim of this research is to find the causes of the problem of economic contraction and economic inequality in the Bengkulu and Kepulauan Riau provinces. The type of data collected is only sourced from secondary data, namely from the Indonesian Central Bureau of Statistics (2022) and data from literature or libraries through the documentation method and literature study. Data analysis was carried out through statistical analysis methods and qualitative descriptive analysis methods. The results showed that the Pearson Correlation between economic growth and economic inequality was 0.696 (in Bengkulu) and 0.689 (in the Kepulauan Riau). The trend of economic growth and economic inequality in both provinces is decreasing. Bad influence (backwash effect) in the form of a global economic recession (economic downturn) and the case of the Covid-19 pandemic (2019 – 2020) are considered to be the cause of economic contraction in the form of a decrease in economic growth (the extreme occurred in 2020, with -0.02 in the provinces of Bengkulu and -3.80 in Kepulauan Riau province). The trend of economic inequality (measured by the Gini index) which has decreased from year to year is considered a form of an anomaly because it is considered contrary to the decline in economic growth at the same time.

Does club convergence matter? Empirical evidence on inequality in the human development index among Indian states

The Human Development Index (HDI) is recognised as the most commonly used composite index to assess the socio-economic progress of a country. To preserve its pioneering role in development, there has to be a reduction in inequalities and cross-state convergence by adding a sustainable dimension. This paper investigates the convergence hypothesis for the HDI in 36 Indian states and union territories (UTs) from 1990 to 2019. For that purpose, the study used the club convergence technique of Phillips and Sul (2007) and Kernel Density estimates to assess whether states converge towards a single steady-state equilibrium or multiple groups. The paper also considers the relative performance of Indian states and UTs and the comprehension of inter-regional inequality in the HDI by employing the Gini and Theil indices. Using the Phillips and Sul technique, the results reveal that all the states converged into two final clubs (i.e., Club 1 and Club 2). The rate of convergence of HDI is approximately 0.112% for club 1 and 1.135% for club 2. The findings indicate that states with the lowest HDI converge faster than those with higher HDI. The kernel density estimates demonstrate that HDI stratifies, polarises, and becomes unimodal over time, albeit with a common steady state. Further, the Gini and Theil indices suggest a significant decline trend in HDI inequality across the Indian states and UTs from 1990 to 2019. From a policy perspective, the study recommends promoting regional development and reducing inequality, considering the unique convergence paths of the clustering states. The study’s findings could provide the government with a new perspective on attaining “horizontal equity” in HDI across Indian states and UTs.

Is wealth inequality reversible? A surveying parallel evolution with complex economic system

This paper builds a stochastic complex economic system with financial markets. We not only solve the closed-form solution of heterogeneous agent's consumption with the quadratic utility but also release the constraint of the equilibrium condition between aggregated wealth and aggregated investment weights. We simulate the system by High Performance Computing and achieve the wealth inequality parallel evolution satisfying the premise of social welfare, agent's utilities, and Total Factor Productivity to be endogenously optimal. The results show the financial structure, labor force's welfare and risk aversion of consumption are significant determinants of wealth inequality. More specifically, there is an approximate “smile” relationship between the equity financing fraction and the wealth inequality at each stage. The overloading or shortage of equity financing could further accelerate wealth inequality. Finally, our results suggest that the trend of wealth inequality cannot be stopped but only slowed.

Per capita CO2 emission inequality of China's urban and rural residential energy consumption: A Kaya-Theil decomposition

With the increasing affluence, the differences in CO2 emission between urban and rural residential sectors are remarkable and show an increasing trend. In case of China, residential sector accounts for a substantial share of the national CO2 emission, bringing greater pressure to achieve the goal of carbon peak. Analyzing the emission inequality trend and its drivers is essential for formulating effective CO2 emission reduction policies. However, the existing literature lacks relevant analysis from the viewpoint of urban-rural disparity. Hence, this study decomposes the CO2 emission inequality of China's urban and rural residential consumption into four factors by combining the Theil index and Kaya decomposition. The results suggest that, in 2005–2020, the per capita CO2 emission of rural residential consumption increased to a higher extent than those of urban households, with large differences in spatial distribution. Decomposition of the per capita CO2 emission inequality for residential sector shows that the primary source is the inequality within the groups, mainly from the urban intra-group inequality. Based on the static decomposition, energy intensity appears as the main factor of urban–rural inequality. The dynamic decomposition shows that there have been differences in the factors of the change in the Theil index between urban and rural areas across sub-periods.

PRC: history of regional inequality

The purpose of the article is to review the historical trends in the regional inequality of the PRC in the period before and after the start of the policy of reforms and opening up (1978). The history of China is characterized by regional inequality of provinces, autonomous regions and cities of central subordination of the main regions of the PRC: Eastern, Northeastern, Central and Western. Chinese researchers Wang Feng, Wang Yunhui, Gan Chunhui, Liang Longbin, Xiao Jincheng, Zhan Zhang conduct a comprehensive analysis of the causes and evolution of regional inequality before and after the start of the reform and opening policy. The consistent implementation of regional spatial transformation strategies has had a particular impact on regional inequality in China. After the founding of the PRC in 1949, industrialization was officially launched. There was a strengthening of the Eastern and North-Eastern regions, while the Central and Western parts of China lagged behind. In the mid 1960-ies taking into account the preparations for war, Mao Zedong proposed to carry out a three-line construction, which involved the placement of the main production facilities of the PRC in Central and Western China. Since the beginning of the reform and opening up policy, Chinas economic development has entered a stage of rapid growth. However, the economic growth of the territory of the PRC was extremely uneven, and the rates of economic growth in different regions varied significantly. Analysis of regional inequality indicators from 1978 to 2000 shows that 1990 marked a turning point in the evolution of regional inequality. It was not until 2003 that disproportionality in the PRC showed a downward trend.