inequality and measures of development Flashcards
what is income?
- flow measured over a given period of time
- for example at the end of the year how much income was earned
what is wealth?
stock concept, measured at a given point in time, value of assets
what are assets?
- assets are anything with market value that can generate income
- can be bought and sold
- e.g stocks, shares, govt bonds
why is wealth and income linked?
- high incomes can be used to purchase assets which generate more income
- surplus incomes can again be used to purchase assets
- so the two are linked
- if youre wealthy youre going to have a relatively high income
recall the reasons for differentials in income and wealth?
age
difference between education
ownership of financial assets
ownership of property
wage differentials
why is age a reason for differentials in income and wealth?
- they have more skills meaning that theyre more productive because their experience is greater (higher marginal revenue productivity, MRP)
- therefore they can demand higher wages
- their wealth accumulation can also be greater
why are differences in education a reason for differentials in income and wealth?
the more qualifications someone has, the greater the earning potential of that individual is likely to be compared to those who dont
why does ownership of financial assets cause differentials in income and wealth?
- those who can purchase financial assets such as shares, pensions, govt bonds, derivatives are going to be more better off than those who dont
- unequal distribution of wealth
- employer also has a role → the stronger the employer, the more likely that the employer is going to give individual workers access to good pension schemes
why does ownership of property cause differentials in income and wealth?
- going to be more wealthy overtime as these prices go up
- lead to uneven distribution of wealth between those who cant afford to buy property and those who can
- often these are inherited if relatives pass away
why do wage differentials cause differentials in income and wealth?
- differences between wages for different professions
- the greater the wage differential, the greater the inequality in the distribution of income is going to be
- this is why the state provides benefits or minimum wages to close this gap
recall the measures of income inequality
gini coefficient
lorenz curve
what is the gini coefficient- what is the equation for it?
- gini coefficient → mathematical indicator
- takes what the lorenz curve shows visually and given a number for that
gini coefficient matches how much distance there is between the lorenz curve and the line of perfect equality compared to how much distance there could be
section A- in between lorenz curve and line of perfect equality
section B- area under lorenz curve
- takes what the lorenz curve shows visually and given a number for that
how do you construct a lorenz curve- draw an example of one?
- y axis- cumulative percent of income
- x axis- cumulative percent of population
(cumulative means up to and including)
e.g the 50th percent of the population includes the 49 that came before it - linear line represent line of perfect equality
how do you construct a lorenz curve- draw an example of one?
- y axis- cumulative percent of income
- x axis- cumulative percent of population
(cumulative means up to and including)
e.g the 50th percent of the population includes the 49 that came before it - linear line represent line of perfect equality
what is the lorenz curve used for?
- used to compare what actual distribution of income is like compared to the line of perfect equality
- the closer the lorenz curve is to the line of perfect equality, the more equal the distribution of income is and vice versa
the further you draw the lorenz curve from the line of perfect equality the more that total income is being held by a small proportion of the richest in society
how do you construct a lorenz curve- draw an example of one?
- y axis- cumulative percent of income
- x axis- cumulative percent of population
(cumulative means up to and including)
e.g the 50th percent of the population includes the 49 that came before it - linear line represent line of perfect equality
how does the gini coefficient work
- section B is the total area beneath the lorenz curve
- therefore section A + B is the total area beneath the line of perfect equality
- the number given when you work out the gini coefficient is between 0 and 1