1,720,986 research outputs found
Inequality over the Past Century
Full text linkThe share of income received by the top 1 percent of earners varied markedly between 1900 and 2008 in 24 developed and developing economies. Moreover, the biggest earners changed as well. When the century began, the top 1 percent was dominated by capital owners. By the end of the century the hired hands—the top executives—shared with capital owners the highest part of the income distribution.Fil: Gonzalez Alvaredo, Facundo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin
Inequality over the Past Century
Full text linkThe share of income received by the top 1 percent of earners varied markedly between 1900 and 2008 in 24 developed and developing economies. Moreover, the biggest earners changed as well. When the century began, the top 1 percent was dominated by capital owners. By the end of the century the hired hands—the top executives—shared with capital owners the highest part of the income distribution.Fil: Gonzalez Alvaredo, Facundo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin
Colonial Rule, Apartheid and Natural Resources: Top Incomes in South Africa 1903-2007
Full text linkThere have been important studies of overall income inequality and of poverty in South Africa. In this paper, we approach the subject from a different direction: the extent and evolution of top incomes. We present estimates of the shares in total income of groups such as the top 1 per cent and the top 0.1 per cent, covering, with gaps, more than a hundred years. In order to explain the observed dynamics, here we consider three factors: the transfer of political authority, racial discrimination, and the rich mineral resources. The estimates of top income shares for recent years bear out the picture of South Africa as a highly unequal country.Fil: Gonzalez Alvaredo, Facundo. Universidad Torcuato Di Tella. Instituto "Torcuato Di Tella"; Argentina. Ecole Normale Supérieure; Francia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Atkinson, Anthony B.. University of Oxford; Reino Unid
Colonial Rule, Apartheid and Natural Resources: Top Incomes in South Africa 1903-2007
Full text linkThere have been important studies of overall income inequality and of poverty in South Africa. In this paper, we approach the subject from a different direction: the extent and evolution of top incomes. We present estimates of the shares in total income of groups such as the top 1 per cent and the top 0.1 per cent, covering, with gaps, more than a hundred years. In order to explain the observed dynamics, here we consider three factors: the transfer of political authority, racial discrimination, and the rich mineral resources. The estimates of top income shares for recent years bear out the picture of South Africa as a highly unequal country.Fil: Gonzalez Alvaredo, Facundo. Universidad Torcuato Di Tella. Instituto "Torcuato Di Tella"; Argentina. Ecole Normale Supérieure; Francia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Atkinson, Anthony B.. University of Oxford; Reino Unid
Las rentas altas en España: Panorama histórico y evolución reciente
Full text linkEn este breve trabajo revisitamos la dinámica de la participación de los altos ingresos en la renta nacional en España desde 1933 hasta 2010, así como la de la distribución de la riqueza desde 1981 hasta 2007. Primero se presenta una síntesis de los resultados de un estudio anterior (Alvaredo y Saez, 2009 y 2010) para los años 1933-2005. Segundo, se ofrecen y se analizan nuevas estimaciones para los años 2006-2010. Tercero, se compara la experiencia española con la de otros países de Europa, Norteamérica, América Latina y Oceanía, cuyos datos actualizados provienen de la World Top Incomes Database. Por último, se discute la evolución reciente de los altos ingresos en el contexto de la política impositiva óptima y de la política fiscal del Gobierno durante los últimos años.In this short paper we focus on the dynamics of top income and wealth shares in the case of Spain in comparative perspective. First, we provide an overview of the results in Alvaredo and Saez (2009 and 2010) for the years 1933-2005. Second, we update the top share series for the years 2005-2010. Third, we place Spain in perspective by presenting new findings from the WTID. In particular, we provide updated top income series for the US, Europe and Japan, and Latin America. Finally, we discuss the implications of these findings in the context of the fiscal responses given to the ongoing macroeconomic crisis, and the optimal tax policy.Fil: Gonzalez Alvaredo, Facundo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Nuffield College. Oxford; Reino Unido. Paris School of Economics; Franci
A Note on the Relationship between Top Income Shares and the Gini Coefficient
Full text linkWhen a very top group of the income distribution, infinitesimal in numbers, owns a finite share S of total income, the Gini coefficient G can be approximated by G⁎(1 − S)+S, where G⁎ is the Gini coefficient for the rest of the population. We provide a simple formal proof for this expression, give a general formula of the relationship when the top group is not infinitesimal, and offer two applications as illustrations.Fil: Gonzalez Alvaredo, Facundo. Universidad Torcuato Di Tella. Instituto "Torcuato Di Tella"; Argentina. University of Oxford; Reino Unido. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin
Income Inequality under Colonial Rule: evidence from French Algeria, Cameroon, Tunisia, and Vietnam and comparisons with the British Empire 1920-1960
Full text linkIn this article we assess income inequality across French and British colonial empires between 1920 and 1960. For the first time, income tax tabulations are exploited to assess the case studies of French Algeria, Tunisia, Cameroon, and Vietnam, which we compare to British colonies and dominions. As measured by top income shares, inequality was high in colonies. It fell after WWII, but stabilized at much higher levels than in mainland France or the United Kingdom in the 1950s. European settlers or expatriates comprised the bulk of top income earners, and only a minority of autochthons could compete in terms of income, particularly in Africa. Top income shares were no higher in settlement colonies, not only because those territories were wealthier but also because the average European settler was less rich than the average European expatriate. Inequality between Europeans in colonies was similar to (or even below) that of the metropoles. In settlement colonies, the post-WWII fall in income inequality can be explained by a fall in inequality between Europeans, mirroring that of the metropoles, and does not imply that the European/autochthon income gap was reduced.Fil: Gonzalez Alvaredo, Facundo. Paris School of Economics; Francia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto Interdisciplinario de Economía Política de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas. Instituto Interdisciplinario de Economía Política de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Cogneau, Denis. Paris School of Economics; FranciaFil: Piketty, Thomas. Paris School of Economics; Franci
Measuring Top Incomes and Inequality in the Middle East: Data Limitations and Illustration with the Case of Egypt
Full text linkThis paper discusses the data limitations associated with the measurement of top incomes and inequality in the Middle East, with special emphasis to the case of Egypt. It has been noted that high inequality might have contributed to the Arab spring revolt movement. Some studies have argued however that measured inequality in Middle East countries is not particularly large by international standards, and that popular discontent mostly reflects the perceived level of inequality, and the perceived (un)fairness of the distribution. In this paper we review the evidence and present new estimates. We come with two main conclusions. First, data sources at the national level are insufficient to derive reliable estimates of top income shares in a country like Egypt(or in other Middle East countries). One would need reliable fiscal sources in order to make a precise comparison with other emerging or developed countries. Unfortunately, such sources are lacking in most of the region. Next, and irrespective of these uncertainties on within-country inequalities, there is no doubt that income inequality is extremely large at the level of the Middle East taken as whole-simply because regional inequality in per capita GNP is particularly large. According to our benchmark estimates, the share of total Middle East income accruing to the top 10% income receivers is currently 55% (vs. 48% in the United States, 36% in Western Europe, and 54% in South Africa). Under plausible assumptions, the top 10% income share could be well over 60%, and the top 1% share might exceed 25% (vs. 20% in the United States, 11% in Western Europe, and 17% in South Africa). Popular discontent might reflect the fact that perceptions about inequality and the (un)fairness of the distribution are determined by regional (and/or global) inequality, and not only on national inequality.Fil: Gonzalez Alvaredo, Facundo. Paris School of Economics; Francia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Piketty, Thomas. Paris School of Economics; Franci
The inequality (or the growth) we measure. Data gaps and the distribution of incomes
Full text linkLarge gaps exist between income estimates from inequality studies and macroeconomic statistics,questioning our representation of flows and the relevance of economic growth. We take stock ofthese gaps by confronting multiple datasets in Latin America, finding that surveys account foraround half of macroeconomic income over the past twenty years. Less than half of this gap is dueto conceptual differences, the remainder coming from growing measurement issues, which mainlyconcern capital incomes. Top tails in administrative data and surveys present diverging averages,especially for non-wage incomes, and different shapes. We discuss implications for both inequalitylevels and trends.Fil: Gonzalez Alvaredo, Facundo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto Interdisciplinario de Economía Política de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas. Instituto Interdisciplinario de Economía Política de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: De Rosa, Mauricio. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Flores Beale, Ignacio. City University of New York; Estados UnidosFil: Morgan, Marc. Universidad de Ginebra; Suiz
High income and income tax in Colombia, 1993-2010
Full text linkEste artículo presenta las series de participación del ingreso de los niveles superiores de la distribución en Colombia entre 1993 y 2010, basadas en datos del impuesto de renta personal. Se obtienen cuatro resultados empíricos principales: 1) el ingreso está altamente concentrado: el 1% más alto captó más del 20% de ingreso total en 2010, el mayor nivel de desigualdad en cualquier año reciente de la muestra WTID; 2) los individuos de altos ingresos son, en esencia, rentistas y propietarios de capital; 3) mientras que las encuestas de hogares muestran que la desigualdad ha disminuido desde 2006, los resultados basados en impuestos muestran que la concentración en la parte superior se ha mantenido estable; cuando los coeficientes de Gini de las encuestas se ajustan para tener en cuenta los ingresos más altos reportados en la declaración de impuestos, la desigualdad es más alta y la reducción de la desigualdad es menos pronunciada; 4) el impuesto de renta poco reduce el alto nivel de desigualdad.We present a series of the distribution of income accruing to the top income groups in Colombia between 1993 and 2010, based on individual income tax data.We obtain four main empirical results. 1) Income in Colombia is highly concentrated, the top 1% of the incomedistribution accounting for over 20% of total income in 2010. This is at the highest level of inequality in any recent year in the entire WTID sample. 2) High-income individuals in Colombia are, in essence, rentiers and capital owners. 3) While household surveys show that inequality has been decreasing since 2006, tax-based results offer a different picture, where concentration at the top has remained stable; when a survey based on Gini coefficients are adjusted to take into account higher incomes reported in tax returns, inequality levels are higher, and the recent reduction in inequality is less pronounced. 4) Income taxation does little to reduce the high levels of inequality.Fil: Gonzalez Alvaredo, Facundo. Ecole D'economie de Paris; Francia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Londoño Vélez, Juliana. Ecole D'economie de Paris; Franci
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