• Journal of Labour Economics
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.77-102
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• 2007

This paper compares income and consumption for their relative effectiveness in measuring inequality. Although income inequality has received more attention in the literature, the permanent income hypothesis links consumption to welfare more directly than income. To the extent economic agents smooth their consumptions, consumption inequality is a better indicator for an economy's welfare inequality, and it is especially so when income volatility is high. The empirical analysis in this paper indicates that the income and consumption patterns among the Korean wage/salary worker households are quite consistent with the permanent income hypothesis. Further, it is found that consumption inequality tends to be lower than income inequality, and more importantly, that the two inequalities do not always vary in the same direction. These results call for stronger emphasis on consumption inequality in inequality literature.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.15-30
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• 2017

This study analyzes the relationship between income inequality and economic growth. Gini coefficient (market income), the deciles income inequality index and per capita real GDP were analyzed. Furthermore, various cointegration tests were tried to improve the reliability of the test results. From the weak exogeniety test of between per capita real GDP and the Gini coefficient (market income), per capita real GDP has a weak exogeneity while the Gini coefficient is endogenous. From the various cointegration tests, we found out that there is a cointegration between Gini coefficient and per capita real GDP. Moreover, it is estimated that per capita real GDP has a positive effect on the Gini coefficient (market income). In the VAR Granger causal analysis, per capita real GDP affects the Gini coefficient (market income), but it is difficult to say that the Gini coefficient (market income) always has an effect on per capita real GDP. Also, the impulse-response function of the VAR model shows that per capita real GDP temporarily reduces the Gini coefficient (market income), and then increases it over time. Accordingly, it is necessary for the policies to improve not only the distribution structure but also income distribution through economic growth.

• East Asian Economic Review
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.207-235
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• 2020

Acknowledging that individuals dislike having low relative income renders trade less attractive when seen as a technology that integrates two economies by merging separate social spheres into one. We define a "trembling trade" as a situation in which gains from trade are less than losses in relative income, with the result that global social welfare is reduced. We show that a "trembling trade" can arise even when trade is more gainful in four ways: through trade the absolute income of everyone increases, the income gap in both economies is reduced, as is the income gap between the trading economies. However, trade brings populations, economies, or markets that were not previously connected closer together in social space. As a consequence, separate social spheres merge, and people's social space and their comparators are altered. Assuming that people like high (absolute) income and dislike low relative income, the aggregate increase in unhappiness caused by the trade-induced escalation in relative deprivation can result in a negative overall impact of trade on (utilitarian-measured) social welfare, if the absolute income gains are not large enough to mitigate the relative income losses.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.139-151
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• 2015

In this study, we studied the effects of creative science activities of children from low-income family. Before and after the creative science activity programs, we investigated the children from low-income family on scientific attitude, self-esteem and self-efficacy. Also, after the creative science activity programs for low-income family children were interviewed and the results were analyzed. The result of this study was summarized as following. First, the creative science activities has a positive effect on scientific attitude of low-income family children. Through the creative science activities, the children from low-income familie's average of scientific attitude increased meaningfully. Second, the creative science activities has a positive effect on self-esteem and self-efficacy of low-income family children. Through the creative science activities, the children from low-income familie's average of self-esteem increased meaningfully. In the case of the self-efficacy's average points increased, but there was no statistically meaningful. Based on the results of this research, the children from low-income family were influenced positively by the creative science activities. Especially, the children from low-income families who have fewer chances of science experience than other general children were positively influenced in every aspect of this study.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2019

Purpose - As the market economy deepens, the issue of social equity caused by income distribution becomes more and more significant. Therefore, this paper attempts to exploit the determinants of income distribution in terms of macroeconomics. Research design, data, and methodology - The data set from 1990 to 2017 will be used to conduct an empirical analysis under a menu of econometric approaches such as vector autoregressive model and impulse response function. The income distribution and other macroeconomic variables such as foreign direct investment and employment will be used to conduct an empirical analysis to explore the determinants of income distribution in terms of macroeconomics. Results - The findings indicate that the income distribution is related with macroeconomics. More specifically, the export, import, GDP and foreign direct investment play a role in deteriorating the income distribution. Conversely, the industrialization, inflation and employment can improve the income distribution. Unfortunately, the inflation and employment do not get through under 5% significant test. Conclusions - Due to that a good income distribution can be beneficial for both a country and an individual, this paper provides a new scope for China's government to improve its income distribution in terms of macroeconomics.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.613-624
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• 2021

This paper analyzes the relationship between income distribution and energy consumption from a Pareto optimal approach. For this purpose, the causality relationship between electricity consumption per capita (kWh) with respect to country groups and energy consumption per capita (kg of oil equivalent) along with gross domestic product per capita was analyzed. In addition to this purpose, a Pareto analysis was conducted to determine the countries with the highest per capita national income, how much of the world total energy they consume, and whether the law of power in the energy and electricity markets exists. Finally, the impact of official development assistance provided to low-income countries by high-income countries on the low-income countries' electricity and energy consumption was analyzed. In other words, it was questioned whether pareto redistribution policies serve the purpose or not. The Engle-Granger causality approach was used in the analysis of the causality relationship between variables. Our analysis indicated that, first, the energy data of the country groups may be inadequate in revealing income inequalities. Second, the existence of Pareto law of power and global income inequality can be explained based on energy data. Finally, Pareto optimal redistribution policies to eliminate income inequality remain inadequate in practice.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.27-38
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• 2021

Purpose: The study mainly investigates bankruptcy risk and income smoothing tendency of Non-Banking Financial Institutions (NBFIs) in Bangladesh. External parties of NBFIs take investment decisions based on financial reports. Stable and predictable income is one of their preference. On the other hand, poor income is one of the signs of NBFIs having bankruptcy risk. Hence the study tries to find whether the NBFIs having bankruptcy are involved in income smoothing or not. Research design, data and methodology: Data were collected from the annual report of twenty-two listed NBFIs in Bangladesh. Data from 2013 to 2017 were used. Altman's Z score and Eckel's model are used to detecting bankruptcy risk and income smoothing respectively. Results: Result implies that most of the NBFIs which have bankruptcy risk are not involved in income smoothing. Therefore, NBFIs which has bankruptcy risk are involved less with income smoothing. Conclusions: The present study revealed that most of the listed NBFIs in Bangladesh are facing bankruptcy risk. They didn't use any fraudulent technique to show smooth income. The findings will help the investor to take an investment decision on NBFIs in Bangladesh. It will convey signals to the stock market in Bangladesh.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.18-33
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• 2020

Purpose - This paper investigated the effect of international trade affects income inequality. It also compares the different effects between developing and developed countries over the period from 2005 to 2014 for 58 countries. Design/methodology - The econometric estimation was used to identify the relationship between export, import, FDI, GDP, unemployment and income inequality. In this empirical analysis, we utilized a Vector Error Correction (VEC) model using panel data. Findings - The findings show that there is a close correlated between trade and income inequality. The higher export ratio of GDP tends to have a 1.79 times more income inequality in developing countries than in developed countries. The higher import ratio of GDP tends to have a 2.44 times higher income inequality in developing countries than in developed countries. Further, Increasing FDI tend to have an approximately 1.43 times higher income inequality in developing countries than in developed countries. Korea is in the middle of developed and developing countries' result. Originality/value - To correct the global income inequality regarding trade, developed countries' proactive trade policies, such as granting preferential tariff benefits to developing countries, are likely to be needed and Income Safety Net in international trade must be taken into account.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.49-59
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• 2022

The relationship between income inequality and capital account openness is empirically investigated in this study, where macroeconomic variables have opposing effects. Panel data used in the study from the KAOPEN Index and World Bank consists of 28 Asian countries and has been examined; it contains annual observations from 1970 to 2018. The data is examined using a random-effect model based on GMM estimates. Income inequality and capital account openness are positively and significantly related, according to our findings. Overall, the findings imply that increasing income gaps reduced capital investment in nations with large discrepancies. The growing economic discrepancy is being caused by the rich's increasing income share at the expense of the poor. In Asia, inward capital account openness exacerbates income inequality, while outward capital account openness exacerbates it. As a result, income inequality slows economic growth, leading to inflation, unemployment, and increased government spending in several Asian countries. Our control factors, GDP, and other secondary school enrolments, all had a statistically significant negative relationship with income inequality. Income disparity has a positive and statistically significant association with government spending, inflation, population, trade openness, and unemployment. Income disparity has a negative association with capital account openness, gross domestic product, and secondary school enrollment.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.209-215
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• 2022

This study aims to analyze the livelihood resources and income diversification of informal recyclers in the Mekong River Delta (MRD). The multiple linear regression model was applied to determine income diversification and total household income with the sustainable livelihood analysis framework developed by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (2000), including human resources, physical resources, natural resources, financial resources, and social resources. The results indicated that up to 25% of itinerant waste buyers worked on average more than 7.3 hours/day, which was higher than the urban near-poor level regulated by the Vietnam government. The results of the regression model revealed that total households' income was affected by the factors of health status, gender, urban location type 1, the amount of potential savings, and informal credit participation, while the factors of health status, urban location, the amount of potential savings, and informal credit participation have the effect of diversifying farm household income. Thus, if the informal waste recycling sector is supported and regulated by proper government management, it will not only help poor households diversify their income, but it will also help poor households diversify their income, particularly women's income, which is vulnerable and lower than male income in the MRD.