Convergence Patterns of Regional Income Inequalities in Russia

Gluschenko, Konstantin (2023): Convergence Patterns of Regional Income Inequalities in Russia.

Abstract

The paper analyzes the evolution of dispersion of regional income inequalities in Russia in 1995-2022. The aim of the study is to reveal the ‘anatomy’ of regional inequality convergence that took place in 1995-2012, and the divergence that followed it, i.e. the internal structure of these processes. To this end, the paper explores the evolution of the regional Gini indices distribution, namely, that of main distribution statistics and the distribution itself (represented by a histogram). The results obtained suggest that convergence of regional levels of income inequality in Russia in 1995–2012 is almost exclusively due to "catching-up" of low-inequality regions with high-inequality regions. Therefore, this process cannot be considered positive. Divergence of regional inequalities in 2013-2022, on the contrary, was accompanied by a decrease in income inequalities in the regions, improving the situation with spatial inequality in Russia.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: income inequality, convergence, divergence, Gini index, Galton’s fallacy, Russian regions
• Subjects: D - Microeconomics > D3 - Distribution > D31 - Personal Income, Wealth, and Their Distributions; D - Microeconomics > D6 - Welfare Economics > D61 - Allocative Efficiency ; Cost-Benefit Analysis; R - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics > R1 - General Regional Economics > R11 - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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