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Education and income inequality in the regions of the European Union

Education and income inequality in the regions of the European Union
Education and income inequality in the regions of the European Union
This paper provides an empirical study of the determinants of income inequality across regions of the EU. Using the European Community Household Panel dataset for 102 regions over the period 1995-2000, it analyses how microeconomic changes in human capital distribution affect income inequality for the population as a whole and for normally working people. The different static and dynamic panel data analyses conducted reveal that the relationship between income per capita and income inequality, as well as between a good human capital endowment and income inequality is positive. High levels of inequality in educational attainment are also associated with higher income inequality. The above results are robust to changes in the definition of income distribution and may be interpreted as a sign of the responsiveness of the EU labor market to differences in qualifications and skills. Other results indicate that population ageing, female participation in the labor force, urbanization, agriculture, and industry are negatively associated to income inequality, while unemployment and the presence of a strong financial sector positively affect inequality. Finally, income inequality is lower in social-democratic welfare states, in Protestant areas, and in regions with Nordic family structures.
0022-4146
411-437
Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés
a65f9ffb-4b14-4b76-bae9-200e424a1063
Tselios, Vassilis
a1fc70a6-a193-4075-8e36-5b07b65ebd17
Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés
a65f9ffb-4b14-4b76-bae9-200e424a1063
Tselios, Vassilis
a1fc70a6-a193-4075-8e36-5b07b65ebd17

Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés and Tselios, Vassilis (2009) Education and income inequality in the regions of the European Union. Journal of Regional Science, 49 (3), 411-437. (doi:10.1111/j.1467-9787.2008.00602.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

This paper provides an empirical study of the determinants of income inequality across regions of the EU. Using the European Community Household Panel dataset for 102 regions over the period 1995-2000, it analyses how microeconomic changes in human capital distribution affect income inequality for the population as a whole and for normally working people. The different static and dynamic panel data analyses conducted reveal that the relationship between income per capita and income inequality, as well as between a good human capital endowment and income inequality is positive. High levels of inequality in educational attainment are also associated with higher income inequality. The above results are robust to changes in the definition of income distribution and may be interpreted as a sign of the responsiveness of the EU labor market to differences in qualifications and skills. Other results indicate that population ageing, female participation in the labor force, urbanization, agriculture, and industry are negatively associated to income inequality, while unemployment and the presence of a strong financial sector positively affect inequality. Finally, income inequality is lower in social-democratic welfare states, in Protestant areas, and in regions with Nordic family structures.

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More information

Published date: August 2009
Organisations: Economy, Society and Space

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Local EPrints ID: 340917
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/340917
ISSN: 0022-4146
PURE UUID: 329602f0-045e-48c8-a9d9-7eb752d6cbbd

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Date deposited: 06 Jul 2012 13:05
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 11:31

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Contributors

Author: Andrés Rodríguez-Pose
Author: Vassilis Tselios

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