Description
Book SynopsisThis volume presents cross-nationally comparative evidence on income inequality trends, women's employment and its effect on inequality, the distribution of wealth, and the interaction of politics with inequality across several mainly high-income countries.
Trade Review"This book is a valuable addition to the existing literature on economic inequality . . . This is an excellent book that is highly recommended to those with an interest in all aspects of income distribution in contemporary societies . . . [Gornick and Jäntti] need to be congratulated for broadening the focus beyond a purely economic perspective on the issues under examination."—Peter Saunders,
Review of Income and Wealth"Janet C. Gornick and Markus Jäntti's
Income Equality is one fruit of this massive research effort. The book consists of studies of contemporary inequality trends using the [Luxembourg Income Study] data woven into a rich tapestry of understanding of a complex historical episode. The contributors—economists, sociologists, political scientists—analyze the data using powerful methodologies capable of laying bare the underlying structure that human intuition cannot access . . . The combination of high-quality data comparable across countries, international coverage of a period of major change, and insightful analysis based on sophisticated methodologies makes this book a major contribution to our understanding of income.
Income Inequality will influence research for years to come."—François Nielsen,
American Journal of Sociology"A timely, informative volume for students and researchers concerned with income inequality . . . Recommended."—R. S. Rycroft,
CHOICE"This is one of the most important books on inequality published in the past decade. Focusing on what has happened to the middle class since the 1980s, during a period of substantial economic and political restructuring, this volume's remarkable insights and influence will span disciplines."—Jason Beckfield, Harvard University
Table of ContentsIntroduction
1. How Has Income Inequality Grown? The Reshaping of the Income Distribution in LIS Countries
2. On the Identification of the Middle Class
3. Has Rising Inequality Reduced Middle-Class Income Growth?
4. Welfare Regimes, Cohorts and the Middle Classes
5. Political Sources of Government Redistribution in High-Income Countries
6. Income Distribution, Inequality Perception and Redistributive Preferences in
7. Women's Work, Inequality, and the Economic Status of Families
8. Women's Employment, Unpaid Work, and Economic Inequality
9. Women's Work, Family Earnings, and Public Policy
10. Wealth: The Distribution of Assets and Debt
11. The Joint Distribution of Income and Wealth
12. The Fourth Retirement Pillar in Rich Countries
13. Public Pension Entitlements and the Distribution of Wealth
14. Income and Wealth Inequality in Japan
15. Income and Wealth Inequality in Japan
16. Horizontal and Vertical Inequalities in India
17. Post-Apartheid Changes in South African Inequality
Conclusion
