Poverty, Inequality, and Social Change: A Cross-National Analysis of Welfare Distribution Using World Bank PIP Data.

Abstract

This study examines the interrelationship between poverty, inequality, and welfare distribution through a comprehensive cross-national analysis using data from the World Bank’s Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP). Covering 177 countries over the period 1967–2021, the study employs a longitudinal quantitative design to explore global trends, distributional patterns, and structural disparities in income. Descriptive and trend analyses reveal a significant decline in global poverty alongside persistent levels of inequality, highlighting a divergence between improvements in basic living standards and equitable income distribution. Distributional findings indicate a pronounced concentration of income among higher deciles, with the top 10% capturing a disproportionately large share relative to the bottom 50%. Further, urban–rural comparisons demonstrate significantly higher inequality in urban contexts, suggesting the role of structural and spatial factors. Regression results confirm that different dimensions of poverty exert varying effects on inequality, with extreme and upper-middle-income poverty positively associated with income disparities. These findings underscore the limitations of growth-centered approaches and emphasize the need for integrated policies that simultaneously address poverty and inequality. The study contributes to social science discourse by providing robust empirical evidence on the dynamics of welfare distribution and offers policy-relevant insights for advancing inclusive and equitable development.