• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
• /
• v.7 no.10
• /
• pp.433-442
• /
• 2020

This study investigates the impact of fiscal transfer, specifically the Village Fund Transfer, on rural income inequality and rural poverty. Studies on fiscal transfer offers contrasting outcomes, some argues that fiscal transfer suppresses wealth disparity, while others argue that it tends to widen disparity. This study employs descriptive analysis in estimating the elasticity of income inequality and poverty rate before and after the Village Fund Transfer. It develops multiple regressions model on panel datasets of 33 provinces in Indonesia before and after the implementation of Village Fund Transfer. This study suggests that the elasticity of income inequality is higher after the implementation of village fund transfer. Rural poverty tends to decline annually, however, the elasticity changes is lower after the implementation of village fund transfer. Furthermore, this study suggests that village fund transfer is insignificant in coping with the issue of income inequality, while education and the level of labor productivity of agricultural sector appears to be the determinant factor in tackling the issue of income inequality in the rural areas. This study further reveals the significance of village fund transfer in suppressing the rural poverty rate. This study also highlights the significance of human resources quality and agricultural sector in reducing poverty rate in rural areas.

• 한국노년학
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.1445-1461
• /
• 2009

The primary purpose of this study is to find policy implications by examining the trends in income inequality of the Korean aged and factors contributing to these. For analysis, this study used the 2nd, 5th, 7th and 9th wave of 'Korean Labour and Income Panel Study'. The findings are as follows. First, total income inequality of the elderly rose greatly after 1998 and is decreasing after 2001. Secondly, the Gini coefficient decomposition by income sources shows that earned income was the factor most responsible for the income inequality of the elderly. But its influences of the elderly income inequality is gradually decreasing during analysing periods. Third, assets income and public pensions have a great effects on the elderly income inequality. They increases the income inequality of the elderly households. Forth, interfamily transfer income and public assistance income reduces income inequality of the elderly.

• Korea Trade Review
• /
• v.44 no.6
• /
• pp.217-230
• /
• 2019

This study investigates the impacts of international trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) on income distribution both nationally as well as provincially in Vietnam. This study uses panel data of 63 provinces in Vietnam for the period of 2008-2016 and a time series dataset from 1992 to 2016. We found the following results. First, the income distribution is significantly affected by per capita income. When we consider the Kuznets hypothesis, the intra-provincial income inequality of Vietnam's 63 provinces follows a regular U-shaped relationship. In contrast, the income distribution in Vietnam exhibits an inverted U-shaped relationship between the Gini coefficient and per capita income. Second, the inward FDI tends to reduce income gaps in each province through the employment of predominantly low-skilled workers. FDI, however, seems to increase income inequality throughout Vietnam. This result is potentially due to the strong concentration of FDI into a very few areas. Third, the effect of trade openness exhibits a decrease in inequality both within each province and in the whole country of Vietnam.

• Korean Journal of Labor Studies
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.1-34
• /
• 2018

This paper attempts to provide a new theoretical approach and an empirical analysis based on it to interrogate the structure of household income inequality and its changes in South Korea in the 2010s. Previous research on inequality in sociology, labor economics and feminism has focused on local inequalities which derive from specific spaces of society. For a comprehensive understanding of social inequality in totality, it requires a discussion of global inequality beyond local inequalities. Thus, a synthetic approach that integrates local inequalities, encompassing class, the labor market, population, and family. By using regression-based inequality decomposition, we decompose the contribution of gender, level of education, employment status, occupation, household composition and wealth to household income inequality. This paper shows that household and wealth, as well as the factors discussed in the previous research, are significant factors affecting household income inequality in South Korea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.165-172
• /
• 2008

Objectives : Despite various government initiatives, including the expansion of national health insurance coverage, health inequality has been a key health policy issue in South Korea during the past decade. This study describes and compares the extent of the total health inequality and the income-related health inequality over time among Korean adults. Methods : This study employs the 1998, 2001 and 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANESs). The self-assessed health (SAH) ordinal responses, measured on a five-point scale, resealed to cardinal values to measure the health inequalities with using interval regression. The boundaries of each threshold for the interval regression analysis were obtained from the empirical distribution of the EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) valuation weights estimated from the 2005 KNHANES. The final model predicting the individuals' health status included age, gender, educational attainment, occupation, income, and the regional prosperity index. The concentration index was used to measure and analyze the health inequality. Results : The KNHANES data showed an unequal distribution of the total health inequality in favor of the higher income groups, and this is getting worse over time (0.0327 in 1998, 0.0393 in 2001 and 0.0924 in 2005). The income-related health inequality in 2005 was 0.0278, indicating that 30.1% of the total health inequality can be attributed to income. Conclusions : The findings indicate there are health inequalities across the sociodemographic and income groups despite the recent government's efforts. Further research is warranted to investigate what potential policy actions are necessary to decrease the health inequality in Korea.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.3-51
• /
• 2002

Income inequality in Korea has increased after the economic crisis, and the main reason for the widening of income distribution is due to the increase of the unemployed when analyzed using the Family Icome and Expenditure Survey(FIES). However, income inequality has not decreased although the rate of unemployment decreased after 2000. Further data bases for income-related statistics are necessary to examine the exact causes of changing income inequality as a whole since the FIES covers only statistics on urban employees' wage and salary in Korea.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.16 no.10
• /
• pp.49-57
• /
• 2018

This study aims to identify the inequalities and characteristics of health care expenditure of the elderly and non-elderly households by income level. As a result, health care expenditure of elderly households was statistically significantly higher than that of non-elderly households. As a result of calculating the concentration index of health care expenditure by income level, inequality was higher in order of non-elderly households, elderly households, and total households. In order to confirm the effect of health expenditure on household income inequality, we calculated the concentration index of income excluding total health care expenditure from total income. As a result, inequality was higher in order of elderly households, whole households, and non-elderly households. There was not much difference in inequality of health care expenditure among elderly households and non-elderly households. And, the health care expenditure of elderly households was much higher than that of non-elderly households. Also, inequality of health care expenditure by income group was serious. There should be no cases where the medical care support policy for elderly households can not use necessary medical services.

• The Journal of Fisheries Business Administration
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.25-47
• /
• 2008

The Fishing Communities (so-called Uchongae) in Korea was legally established in 1962. It has been gradually expanded by quantity, and we have total 1,969 communities in 2006. The major establishment purpose of Uchongae was put 2 functions. The first function is to make up the double industry structure in coastal region, and second function is to make economical condition for Uchongae. Nevertheless the Fishing Communities System in Korea was not successfully developed after first beginning. The Income gap have become heavily between fishing area and non - fishing area, including agricultural area. The income gap has been due to rapid industrialization and urbanization in Korea. And the income gap even have become heavily among Uchongaes. In this paper, It have been researched the degree of Income inequality among Uchongaes in Korea during 1986-2006. The income inequality degree was analyzed by Gini coefficient and Mean Log Deviation (MLD) using Lorenz Curve. According to analysis result, the Gini coefficient of Uchongaes in Korea has been about 2-times high from 0.0847 to 0.1770 during 20 years. And the MLD has been 5.4 times from 0.0125 to 0.0679 during same periods. This means to more wide the general Income Inequality among the Uchongaes in Korea. Especially, It means to more wide the gap of high ranking Uchongaes and low ranking Uchongaes that MLD index multiplier has been more high.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
• /
• v.7 no.10
• /
• pp.73-85
• /
• 2020

As an effort to achieve sustainable development and increase people's welfare, financial inclusion has become the policy agenda of many countries. Therefore, the effect of financial inclusion on economic growth, poverty, income inequality, and financial stability in several countries in Asia has become the goal and this is the subject of this study. Financial inclusion is measured by 3 dimensions, namely banking penetration, access to banking services, and use of banking services. Poverty ratio below the national poverty line and the Gini coefficient are used as indicators of poverty and income inequality. Financial stability is measured by Bank Z-Score and bank nonperforming loans. The results from the hypothesis test shows that all dimensions of financial stability simultaneously have significant influence on economic growth, poverty, income inequality, and financial stability. On the other hand, the partial impact of financial inclusion dimension on economic growth, poverty alleviation, income inequality, and financial stability in ten countries of Asia has not been optimal. The derived results of this study is required to be interpreted and considered by the Governments of each country in developing strategies for increasing financial inclusion, so that the policy to achieve sustainable development and enhancement of people's welfare can be achieved.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.64 no.2
• /
• pp.185-212
• /
• 2012

This study examines changes in income inequality and income mobility associated with a transition to old age. In understanding the dynamics of income distribution over the later life course, it is important to explore the changes in income dispersion and the changes in relative income positions jointly. Data come from Korean Labor and Income Panel Study(KLIPS) 2nd, 7th, 12th wave. The results are as follows. First, a transition to old age is associated with an increase in income inequality. The Gini index of inequality increased steadily over the life course. Second, a transition to old age is associated with substantial income mobility. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient between two periods was the lowest at the time of the transition. Increasing income dispersion and significant income mobility can be conceptualized as "income insecurity", since the older population are less likely to cope with income fluctuations. Third, in explaining such changes over time, changes in work life during old age and a subsequent decrease in earnings seem to be the most influential factor.