Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 1999. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 189 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 131-140).

The effect of income inequality has been controversial issue for decades, which researchers have concluded conflicting results. Many researchers have found that income inequality is conducive on economic growth, while others found harmful effect. Hence, this paper investigates the impact of income inequality on economic growth by using the cross sectional analysis. The averaged data from periods of 2002-2006 were used and observations from 90 developed and developing countries were also used. We find that income inequality is negatively associated in economic growth.

Research indicates a warming global climate leads to change in the spatial and temporal characteristics of precipitation. Although precipitation is inherently variable through time and space, for some water-sensitive stakeholders, the evenness with which precipitation is distributed through a time interval rivals the importance of total precipitation amount and frequency within that period. This study uses a relatively new approach of analyzing inequity in the temporal distribution of precipitation to examine the recent historical record of precipitation across the United States. The Gini coefficient (GC), which has been commonly used in the field of economics to measure wealth distribution, was used here to assess inequity in the temporal distribution of daily precipitation through seasonal and annual timeframes. Additionally, the Lorenz asymmetry coefficient (LAC) was used to assess the magnitude of daily precipitation events (light, heavy) associated with inequity in the temporal distribution of precipitation. The concept of using these two metrics together to quantify changes in the character with which precipitation occurs across a time interval has yet to be documented for areas within the United States. Therefore, this study expands upon previous research of long-term hydroclimatic change and variability by illustrating the combined ability of these two relatively under-utilized metrics, the GC and the LAC, to enhance quantification of recent change in the characteristics of the temporal distribution of daily precipitation across the United States. The first element of the research presented here is demonstration of the utility of the GC and LAC metrics using data from the physically diverse mid-Atlantic sub-region of the United States. This research used station-level daily precipitation data to compute historic time series of intra-annual and intra-seasonal precipitation amount, precipitation frequency, GC, LAC, variance (V), and interquartile range (IQR). The results of this portion of the research show that when compared to other simpler measures of characterizing variability (i.e., V and IQR), the GC is relatively robust to both the number of days with precipitation and the total precipitation received in a temporal increment (i.e., season or year). The research expanded in scale to the continental United States, requiring data integration to a regional level to facilitate data analysis and physical understanding. The analysis used gridded seasonal means (1981 – 2010) of four precipitation characteristics: precipitation amount, precipitation frequency, GC, and LAC to delineate regions of homogenous precipitation characteristics. To accomplish this, a multi-step regionalization technique was employed. Specifically, the historic seasonal means were subjected to a Principal Components Analysis (PCA), and the resulting component scores were subjected to several cluster analysis techniques. The average linkage clustering technique produced the most logical clustering solution, indicating that 15 regions of homogenous precipitation exist within the contiguous United States. It is argued that the regions better serve hydroclimatic analyses than the nine climate regions designated by the United States National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). The third element of the research integrates the first two research elements in study of recent United States hydroclimate variability and change. For the 15 United States hydroclimate regions, regionally averaged water year time series (1949 – 2018) of precipitation amount, precipitation frequency, GC, and LAC were computed using in-situ precipitation data gathered from the NCEI's Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN)-Daily database. The time series of all precipitation characteristics for each region were then subjected to the nonparametric Mann-Kendall trend test to assess the significance of each trend, and the Sen's slope estimator was used to quantify the magnitude of the trend. Time series that characterize two key atmospheric characteristics, total column water vapor and static stability, were also computed for each region. For most of the 15 study regions, water year total precipitation and precipitation frequency increased through the latter half of the 20th century. The largest magnitude of change in water year total precipitation and precipitation frequency occurred in the time series of regions located within the eastern and northern portions of the contiguous United States. Results also show that inequity in the temporal distribution of water year precipitation increased through the 70-year study period for most of the 15 study regions. Combined, these results indicate that days with light and heavy precipitation are becoming more prevalent at the expense of days with moderate precipitation. Furthermore, variability in the time series of some precipitation characteristics for several regions coincide with variability in the atmospheric variables that characterize total column water vapor and static stability, however the dominant driver of hydroclimatic change across the contiguous United States remains elusive. / Doctor of Philosophy / Research indicates a warming global climate leads to change in the spatial and temporal characteristics of precipitation. These changes could adversely affect some water-sensitive stakeholders who are concerned not only with the amount of precipitation received over time, but also with the manner in which the precipitation is distributed through time – all at once, or spread evenly. The Gini coefficient (GC), which has been commonly used in the field of economics to measure wealth distribution, was used here to assess inequity in the temporal distribution of daily precipitation through seasonal and annual timeframes. Additionally, the Lorenz asymmetry coefficient (LAC) was used to assess the magnitude of daily precipitation events (light, heavy) that were primarily responsible for inequity in the distribution of daily precipitation amounts through each time interval. The research presented here used gridded seasonal means (1981 – 2010) of four precipitation characteristics: precipitation amount, precipitation frequency, GC, and LAC to delineate regions of homogenous precipitation characteristics. Through this process, 15 hydroclimatic regions were delineated within the contiguous United States. Regionally averaged annual time series (1949 – 2018) of precipitation amount, precipitation frequency, GC, and LAC were computed for each region using station-level precipitation. The time series of each precipitation characteristic, and for each region were then examined for statistical trends through the 70-year study period. Regional time series which characterize two key atmospheric characteristics, total column water vapor and static stability, were also computed for each region. For most of the 15 study regions, water year total precipitation and precipitation frequency increased through the latter half of the 20th century. The largest magnitude of change in water year total precipitation and precipitation frequency occurred in the time series of regions located within the eastern and northern portions of the contiguous United States. Results also show that precipitation became less evenly distributed across the water year through the 70-year study period for most of the 15 study regions. Combined, these results indicate that days with light and heavy precipitation are becoming more prevalent at the expense of days with moderate precipitation. Furthermore, variability in the time series of some precipitation characteristics for several regions coincide with variability in the atmospheric variables that characterize total column water vapor and static stability, however the dominant driver of hydroclimatic change across the contiguous United States remains elusive.

This paper studies data from a 25-year period in the history of Sweden and the US, ranging from 1993 to 2017. The aim of the thesis was to investigate the impact of immigration on the income inequality of the respective countries while also considering the impact of other specific variables. In order to estimate the impact of the variables, both static and dynamic models were used, with the Gini coefficient being the dependent variable. With the ordinary least square giving short-run estimates and the error correction model providing short- and long- run estimates simultaneously, the main variable for immigration, being the foreign-born population, showed a strong positive relationship with income inequality. For the estimation, the immigration variable was also split into high- and low-skilled immigrants as well as different age groups. In conclusion, we find that immigration in Sweden and the US has high levels of influence on the income inequality for both countries.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Physics / Master / Master of Philosophy

The war on poverty started in America in the early 1960s, and the poverty rate of 22.4 percent in the year 1959 decreased to 11.1 percent in 1973. Regrettably, this war did not last long enough, as poverty rate increased to 15.1 percent in 1993. In the year 2000 the US poverty rate declined, but always stayed above 11.1 percent. Kentucky also did not achieve success in this poverty war, and it resulted in growing numbers of poor people. Analysis of poverty has always aroused the interest of economists, sociologists and policy makers. Goal of this paper is to intricate appropriate strategies and invent effective prevention efforts to eradicate the young adult poverty. Estimation of Gini coefficients for various age groups indicates that the young adult population of Kentucky is at risk. The purpose of this paper is to determine the factors of young adult poverty, employing ZIP Code data in Kentucky. Data analysis reveals that rural young adults are more vulnerable than urban young adults in Kentucky. Some significant factors such as; male and female educational level, presence of minorities and type of employment are the primary determinants of poverty for this age group. Analysis of outcomes leaves suggestions for the policy makers to exterminate young adult poverty from Kentucky.

Income inequality is in a majority of earlier studies more or less affirmatively agreed to be negatively related to economic growth. The underlying complexity of the connection lacks well-tried backing in the modern time. The main purpose of this research is to identify the relationship between income inequality and economic growth, but also the effects of other factors, such as human capital and investment. This is conducted with a panel data approach on 34 OECD countries with data over the period 1990-2010. Aggregate income inequality, represented by the Gini coefficient is used in the empirical estimation, together with two other variables to control for the income inequality at the bottom and top end of the income distribution. The results indicate the aggregate inequality level to be significantly and positively related to growth, while bottom end and top end inequality is seen to have a significant and negative relationship with growth. The level of GDP per capita, education and population growth is also seen to have an impact on economic growth.

This paper empirically examines the effect of income inequality on economic growth in a sample of 69 high income economies. It uses an improved inequality dataset developed by the World Institute for Development Economics Research and panel estimation techniques in an ordinary least squares regression. The results provide robust empirical evidence that rising levels of income inequality have adverse effects on growth in high income countries and indicate that, on average, a one standard deviation increase in income inequality will decrease growth by 67.91%. Results from the regression also suggest increases in human capital and international openness, decreases in the government consumption ratio, and more favorable terms of trade promote growth while higher initial per capita GDP and higher levels of investment retard growth.

This thesis is focused on questions of state redistribution and income inequality in the Czech republic. It explains the main ideas of state redistribution, income inequality and relation between them. It anlyzes the particular instruments of state redistribution such as tax systems and systems of social transfers which the government uses to achiave more equal distribution of incomes in society. The object of the thesis is to find out how the particular instruments contribute to filling the essentials goal - lower the income inequality in society. It is based on the data from years 2006 until 2008 from the statistics of household accounts published on the web site of the Czech statistical office. Finally, it is devoted to the trends of state redistribution and income inequality in OECD countries.

Under 2000-talets början har inkomstojämlikhet ökat i världen. Det är omdebatterat vilka faktorer som ligger bakom och vilka medel som ska hantera problematiken. Uppsatsen undersöker ett av de vanligaste verktygen för att stävja inkomstojämlikhet, nämligen inkomstskatt. Syftet är att mäta vilken effekt inkomstskatt har på inkomstojämlikhet. För att uppfylla syftet tillämpas en instrumentvariabel regressionsanalys för att studera om inkomstskatt kan förklara inkomstojämlikhet i svenska kommuner under tidsperioden 2003–2017. Studien utmärker sig från tidigare studier inom området då en instrumentvariabel regressionsanalys använts för att exkludera att inkomstojämlikhet kan påverka nivå av inkomstskatt i en region. Statistiskt signifikanta resultat påvisar att inkomstskatt har negativ effekt på inkomstojämlikhet. Där en 1 procentenhets ökning i inkomstskatt leder till 2,08 procents minskning i inkomstojämlikhet. / During the beginning of the 21st century, income inequality has risen in most countries. What has caused this and how it should be solved is well debated. This paper intends to research one of the most well-known instruments to decrease income inequality, income tax. Our aim is to measure what effect income tax has on income inequality. To reach this aim we have applied an instrument variable regression analysis on income tax and income inequality, with Swedish municipalities during the timespan 2003-2017 as our selection group. This study distinguishes itself from previous studies in the area since we have used an instrument variable analysis to exclude the fact that income inequality can affect the level of income tax in a region. We have found significant results that income tax have a negative effect on income inequality and have concluded that a 1 percent increase in income tax will decrease income inequality with 2,08 percent.