Components of Gini, Bonferroni, and Zenga Inequality Indexes for EU Income Data

In this work we apply a new approach to assess contributions from factor components to income inequality. The new approach is based on the insight that most (synthetic) inequality indexes may be viewed as (weighted) averages of point inequality measures, which measure inequality between population subgroups identified by income. Assessing contributions of factor components to point inequality measures is usually an easy task, and based on these contributions it is straightforward to define contributions to the corresponding (synthetic) overall inequality indexes as well. As we shall show through an analysis of income data from Eurostat’s European Community Household Panel Survey (ECHP), the approach based on point inequality measures gives rise to readily interpretable results, which, we believe, is an advantage over other methods that have been proposed in literature.

Combining the dynamics of Poverty and Deprivation

This article analyses the evolution of poverty and deprivation. The study is focused on consistent poverty, defined as the combination of income and living conditions. In the literature, other papers on poverty show high exit and re-entry rates depending on temporary income shocks. These conclusions are tested in the case of deprivation and consistent poverty by using latent and mixed Markov models. This study is based on the European Community Household Panel (ECHP) data for Spain (1994-2001).

OVERQUALIFICATION, SKILL MISMATCHES AND WAGES IN PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYMENT IN EUROPE

This paper uses a sample of private sector male workers from the European Community Household Panel to examine the wage effects of educational mismatches across segments of the earnings distribution in 12 countries. We consider two types of mismatch, overqualification and skills mismatches. By differentiating between quantiles, we discriminate between groups of workers with different unobservable earnings conditions. We find that the detrimental effects of skill mismatches on wages are larger than those of overqualification in most segments of the earnings distribution. Moreover, we find that the pay penalty of educational mismatch tends to be higher among workers with higher unconditional wages. This finding suggests that the mismatch phenomenon entails wage losses over and above those attributable to unobservable earnings determinants, including ability and skills possessed by workers.

Retirement and the Poverty of the Elderly: The Case of Portugal

This article discusses whether transition to retirement may be associated with a greater probability of becoming poor. Having recourse to the European Community Household Panel (ECHP) for Portugal, the analysis is focused on a sample of individuals who retired in the period 1994-2001. Longitudinal analysis focuses upon income changes upon entering retirement. We relate the dynamics of household income changes for people who retire to personal and household characteristics. A multivariate probit model of the probability of low income at the time of retirement, conditional on not having a low income prior to retirement, is then put forward.