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The purpose of this project is to advance data collection, measurement, and research regarding the development of inequality in the world. A major focus in this research area is the maintenance, updating, and development of the World Income Inequality Database (WIID) which is currently the most comprehensive and complete database on inequality indicators. It gathers information on income inequality in all the countries in the world for which suitable data is available and it is freely downloadable at the UNU-WIDER website. The project also generates new research output based on WIID data. This includes a study on the drivers of within-country inequality, with a particular emphasis on the impacts of tax and spending policies. The project also contributes to the design of suitable financing of redistributive transfers systems by conducting research on tax policies in developing countries.
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Workshop
UNU-WIDER and the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs workshop on inequalityOn 6 May 2019, UNU-WIDER will partner with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in organizing a workshop on inequality. The workshop will provide an opportunity to present and discuss some of the lessons learned in...
Blog
Measuring inequality in middle-income countriesIncome inequality is the result of complex processes with multiple interacting driving forces but understanding those drivers in emerging economies is particularly difficult because of data and analytical challenges...
Global inequality Economic inequality Top incomesPanel discussion
Open dialogue on inequality in the 21st century
Presentation
Measuring Inequality in the 21st CenturyThe Human Development Report Office , LIS , the Stone Center at the City University of New York (CUNY), UNU-WIDER and the World Inequality Lab will host a symposium on Measuring Inequality in the 21st Century. The 2-day event will be held 28-29...
Database
World Income Inequality Database - WIID4The current revision ― WIID4 ― is the fourth major update of the database. The observations now reach the year 2017 and coverage is extended to 189 countries (including historical entities), with over 11,000 data points in total. There are now...
News
New data on income inequality – WIID4 releasedThe UNU-WIDER World Income Inequality Database ― widely known by its acronym WIID ― presents information on income inequality for developed, developing, and transition countries. The WIID provides the most comprehensive set of income inequality...
Parallel session
Global inequality (Income and Wealth)The economics profession has witnessed an increasing interest in the analysis of inequality of income and wealth with a global perspective. This has led to a growing research trying to understand the trends and driving forces of global inequality,...
Journal Article
How polarized is the global income distribution?The interest in the level of global inequality has surged in recent years. This paper complements existing estimates of global inequality by providing the first estimates of the level of bipolarization of the global income distribution...
Polarization Bipolarization Polarization measuresPresentation
Understanding global and local inequalities: An EU - AFD initiativeThe recently established Research Facility on Inequalities is funded by the European Commission under its Development Cooperation Instrument . The Research Facility on Inequalities is implemented by Agence Française de Développement (...
Working Paper
How polarized is the global income distribution?The interest in the level of global inequality has surged in recent years. This paper complements existing estimates of global inequality by providing the first estimates of the level of bipolarization of the global income distribution...
Polarization Bipolarization Polarization measuresIn the media
Nigerian daily business paper draws on the WIIDAn editorial published in Business Day, a daily business newspaper based in Lagos, has drawn on the World Income Inequality Database (WIID) to point to Nigeria’s growing inequality. The piece uses the database along with measures from the...
Database
World Income Inequality Database - WIID3.4The current revision ― WIID3.4 ― is an update of the third major revision of the database, WIID3. The current version includes observations for six additional countries, with the latest observations now reaching the year 2015. In total, the data...
News
New data on income inequality – WIID3.4 releasedThe UNU-WIDER World Income Inequality Database ― widely known by its acronym WIID ― collects and stores information on income inequality for developed, developing, and transition countries. WIID provides the most comprehensive set of income...
Working Paper
Redistribution around the world: Causes and consequencesThis paper re-examines the determinants and consequences of redistribution in light of improved data and methods relative to earlier literature...
Cross-country analysis Growth InequalityIn the media
World Economic Forum features UNU-WIDER study on global inequalityThe recent study on global inequality by UNU-WIDER experts has drawn the attention of the World Economic Forum. Laurence Roope, Miguel Niño-Zarazúa, and Finn Tarp write in their column for the forum and vox.org about how absolute...
Global inequalityIn the media
Recent UNU-WIDER study on global inequality continues to grab attentionNews outlets continue to cover a recent UNU-WIDER study on global inequality.
Global inequality