Social inequality in food consumption between 2008 and 2019 in Brazil

Objective: To analyse the trend of social inequality in food consumption among Brazilians from 2008 to 2019. Design: Time series analyses using cross-sectional annual data from the Telephone Surveillance System (VIGITEL 2008–2019). Food consumption was evaluated through: (1) consumption of five or more portions of fruits and vegetables in ≥5 d/week; (2) consumption of beans in ≥5 d/week and (3) consumption of soft drinks or artificial juices in ≥5 d/week. Absolute inequality was assessed by the slope index of inequality (SII) and relative inequality by the concentration index (CIX). SII and CIX positive values indicate higher prevalence among more educated citizens and negative among less educated ones. Time trend was assessed by linear regression using weighted least squares. Setting: 26 Brazilian state capitals and the Federal District. Participants: 621 689 individuals ≥18 years. Results: Fruits and vegetable consumption was more prevalent among the more educated citizens, while beans were mostly consumed by the less educated, and soft drinks or artificial juices was more prevalent among individuals with intermediate education. The highest absolute inequality was found for beans (SII2019 -25·9). In 12 years, the absolute inequality increased for fruit and vegetable consumption (from SII2008 12·8 to SII2019 16·2), remained for beans (SII2008 -23·1 to SII2019 -25·9) and reduced for soft drinks or artificial juices (SII2008 8·7 to SII2019 0·4). Relative inequality was low and constant. Conclusion: Despite the advances reducing inequalities in soft drinks or artificial juice consumption, the increase in the social gap for adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables is troublesome.

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

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.

Educational disparities in hypertension, diabetes, obesity and smoking in Brazil: a trend analysis of 578 977 adults from a national survey, 2007–2018

ObjectivesOur study aimed to assess social inequality trends for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking and obesity from 2007 to 2018 in adults from Brazilian capitals.SettingData from the Surveillance of Risk and Protection Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey study, a cross-sectional telephone survey, conducted annually from 2007 to 2018.ParticipantsWe used data from 578 977 Brazilian adults (≥18 years).DesignCross-sectional surveys conducted annually from 2007 to 2018.Primary outcome measuresParticipants responded to a questionnaire about medical diagnosis of hypertension and diabetes, smoking status, weight and height. Educational inequalities (0–3, 4–8, 9–11 and 12 or more years of study) by sex and skin colour were assessed trough absolute, Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and relative measures of inequality, Concentration Index and trends were tested by Prais-Winsten.ResultsAll outcomes were more prevalent in the least educated. The largest absolute educational inequality was observed for hypertension (SIItotal=−37.8 in 2018). During 2007–2018, the total educational disparity remained constant for hypertension, increased for diabetes and smoking, and decreased for obesity. Overall, inequality was higher among women and non-whites, compared with men and whites. We found a reduction in absolute inequality for hypertension among non-whites, an increase for diabetes in all strata, and an increase for smoking in women and non-whites. The relative inequality decreased in women and whites and increased for smoking in all strata, except among men.ConclusionThe educational inequality reduced for obesity, remained constant for hypertension and increased for diabetes and smoking from 2007 to 2018 in Brazilian adults.

What works to mitigate and reduce relative (and absolute) inequality? A systematic review

Over the past two decades, research on the impacts of a diverse range of public policies and income inequality has seen rapid growth. Despite the large number of publications to date, there remain important lacunae in our understanding of how policy interventions might help to reduce income inequality. This paper aims to fill this void by providing a systematic literature review of 270 publications that examine four key policy areas: (1) tax policy, (2) social benefits, (3) labour market interventions, and (4) education policy. We describe patterns of empirical findings and implications drawn from the reviewed publications. The strengths and weaknesses of the existing literature are also discussed, along with potential future research avenues.

Analisis Kesalahan Mahasiswa Menentukan Penyelesaian Pertidaksamaan Nilai Mutlak dalam Mata Kuliah Kalkulus

The purpose of this study is to describe the aspects of mistakes made by semester 1 students of Bumigora University, Mataram, Departement of Computer Science in solving questions related to the material Absolute Inequality. The research method used is descriptive qualitative and quantitative descriptive methods. Based on the results of diagnostic tests conducted on 121 students, it is found that there are still many students who make mistakes in solving problems including students' concept errors on the material inequality absolute value of 47.1%, principle errors of 60.3%, and operating errors of 81, 5% Constraints experienced by students so that errors occur in working on problems related to inequality absolute values, namely: (a) Students are still unable to understand the intended purpose of the problem, (b) Students are not capable of simple mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, fraction worth and others; (c) When sitting in school, students are only given simple examples in solving problems.

Suicide mortality and its income-based inequalities in Korea, 2005-2017

Backgrounds The suicide mortality rate in Korea has been the highest in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries between 2003 and 2016. The trends of suicide mortality and its inequalities according to socioeconomic positions provide important information in establishing suicide prevention policies. This study investigated trends in suicide mortality and its income-based inequalities in Korea between 2005 and 2017. Methods Data from 2005-2017 National Health Insurance Database individually linked with cause-of-death data of Statistics Korea were employed. A total of 164,412 suicidal deaths from 574,610,162 subjects aged 10 or over were analyzed. Age-standardized suicide mortality rates were calculated by the calendar year, sex, and income quintiles. The slope index of inequality was calculated as an absolute measure for inequality and relative index of inequality was used as a relative inequality measure. Results The suicide mortality in Korea increased from 29.3 per 100,000 in 2005 to 33.3 in 2011, then decreased to 23.1 in 2017. Suicide mortality rates in men were more than twice as high as the rates in women and the gender gap remained throughout the period. The lower income-level, the higher the suicide mortality rate, especially in men. The absolute inequality in suicide measured by the slope index of inequality has changed as the suicide mortality rate fluctuated, but the relative inequality in suicide has increased since 2012. Conclusions The suicide mortality in Korea has increased due to the global financial crisis and copycat suicide following celebrity suicides in 2008, but it has decreased since the paraquat ban in 2011-12. Despite the recent decline in suicide mortality, the gap between income quintiles did not change meaningfully during the study period. In particular, the magnitude of relative inequality has increased. Progressive national policies should be implemented to reduce suicide mortality and its income gaps. Key messages Despite the recent decline in suicide mortality in Korea, the income-based inequalities in suicide did not change meaningfully. The magnitude of relative inequalities has increased recently.

Absolute income inequality and rising house prices

Income inequality and house prices have risen sharply in developed countries during 1975–2010. In line with theoretical models, we argue that this co-movement is no coincidence, but that inequality has driven up house prices on the grounds that it raises the aggregate demand for housing. Our results suggest that absolute inequality and house prices in most Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries were positively correlated and cointegrated, whereas relative inequality and mean income were not significant long-run determinants. This finding indicates that the surge in OECD house prices in part can be explained by a top-income-induced increase in housing demand, and that it is important to consider the interaction of rising mean income and its relative distribution when studying potential correlates of house prices. Moreover, our results confirm previous findings that the short-term real interest rate also is an important correlate of house prices.

Do Inequality Measures Measure Inequality?

In the literature, much attention has been paid to a number of aspects of inequality including the distinction between relative and absolute inequality, axiomatization of inequality, the Lorenz criterion for inequality comparisons, properties of various inequality measures, and inequality decomposition. In no way do I wish to argue with the main results derived in these areas. Rather, my purpose here is to add to the theory of inequality measurement by dealing with one aspect of inequality which has been largely ignored by economists and by others. This is the question of how inequality changes – in particular, whether it increases, decreases, or remains unchanged – when income grows in specified ways. The balance of this chapter deals with two distinct conceptual entities, “inequality” and “inequality measures.” The next section analyzes how “inequality” might be said to change under various types of economic growth and explores the foundations for alternative views. One approach in terms of “elitism of the rich” and “isolation of the poor” is then described. The following section looks into the behavior of “inequality measures” and the relationship between “inequality measures” and “inequality,” and a final section draws some conclusions.