Income Inequality and Social Transformation: A Cross-National Analysis of Distributional Change

Abstract

Income inequality has become a central concern in understanding contemporary social and economic transformations across countries. This study examines cross-national patterns of income inequality with a focus on distributional change over time. Using data from the World Income Inequality Database (WIID), the analysis covers 190 countries over the period 1980–2018. Multiple indicators, including the Gini coefficient, Palma ratio, and income shares, are employed to capture different dimensions of inequality. The findings reveal substantial variation in inequality levels across regions and income groups, with higher inequality observed in the Americas and Africa and comparatively lower levels in Europe. Temporal analysis indicates a rise in inequality during the 1990s, followed by relative stabilization in subsequent decades, although patterns vary across countries. Distributional analysis further shows persistent disparities between higher- and lower-income groups, highlighting the structural nature of inequality. Panel regression results suggest that inequality trends are not solely explained by economic development, pointing to the importance of institutional and regional factors. Overall, the study underscores that income inequality is a dynamic and context-specific phenomenon, reflecting broader processes of structural and social change. The findings contribute to comparative research by linking distributional patterns with cross-national variation in inequality trajectories.