The fall in income inequality during COVID-19 in four European countries

Andrew Clark, Conchita D’Ambrosio () and Anthony Lepinteur
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Conchita D’Ambrosio: University of Luxembourg
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Conchita D'Ambrosio

The Journal of Economic Inequality, 2021, vol. 19, issue 3, No 4, 489-507

Abstract: Abstract We here use panel data from the COME-HERE survey to track income inequality during COVID-19 in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Relative inequality in equivalent household disposable income among individuals changed in a hump-shaped way between January 2020 and January 2021, with an initial rise from January to May 2020 being more than reversed by September 2020. Absolute inequality also fell over this period. Due to the pandemic some households lost more than others, and government compensation schemes were targeted towards the poorest, implying that on average income differences decreased. Generalized Lorenz domination reveals that these distributive changes reduced welfare in Italy.

Keywords: COME-HERE; COVID-19; Income inequality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D63 I32 I38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (26)

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Working Paper: The Fall in Income Inequality during COVID-19 in Four European Countries (2021)
Working Paper: The Fall in Income Inequality during COVID-19 in Four European Countries (2021)
Working Paper: The Fall in Income Inequality during COVID-19 in Four European Countries (2021)
Working Paper: The Fall in Income Inequality during COVID-19 in Four European Countries (2021)
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DOI: 10.1007/s10888-021-09499-2

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