The issue of income distribution in the modern sense emerged with the creation of the capitalist mode of production-a process characterized by income gaps, at first widening, then narrowing, and widening once again. I...The issue of income distribution in the modern sense emerged with the creation of the capitalist mode of production-a process characterized by income gaps, at first widening, then narrowing, and widening once again. In the classical economic stage featuring dual economy, income distribution was dominated by capital due to scarce capital and cheap labor, which led to widening income gaps. Entering the neoclassical economic stage, income distribution was dominated by the game between capital and labor due to diminishing marginal return to capital and relatively scarce labor, which led to the growing share of labor compensation and narrowing income gaps. Yet since the 1970s, the deepening of financialization of capital has once again magnified the effect of capital-dominated income distribution, which, together with working class polarization, led to another round of widening income gaps. An observation of the long-term evolution of world economic development and income distribution gives us a clearer view on the intrinsic rationale of change in income distribution: The mode of production determines the mode of distribution and functional distribution shares intrinsic consistency with quantitative distribution.展开更多
In this study, we classify the income gap into the total income gap and the inter-group income gap depending on the subjects of study. Measurement and decomposition methods are discussed at three levels： income inequ...In this study, we classify the income gap into the total income gap and the inter-group income gap depending on the subjects of study. Measurement and decomposition methods are discussed at three levels： income inequality, polarization, and the inter-group income gap. While income inequality focuses on description of the overall income gap, polarization aims to examine the phenomenon of the ＂clustering effect＂ in income distribution, for which the measurement indexes used can be broadly divided into bi-polarization and multi-polarization indexes. The Shapley decomposition method and decomposition of the distribution of inter- group income differences are cutting edge techniques for the decomposition of the income gap. We also stress the applicability and relevance of income gap measurement indexes and decomposition methods, to facilitate selection of the most appropriate methods for more accurate detection of the causes of the income gap.展开更多
文摘The issue of income distribution in the modern sense emerged with the creation of the capitalist mode of production-a process characterized by income gaps, at first widening, then narrowing, and widening once again. In the classical economic stage featuring dual economy, income distribution was dominated by capital due to scarce capital and cheap labor, which led to widening income gaps. Entering the neoclassical economic stage, income distribution was dominated by the game between capital and labor due to diminishing marginal return to capital and relatively scarce labor, which led to the growing share of labor compensation and narrowing income gaps. Yet since the 1970s, the deepening of financialization of capital has once again magnified the effect of capital-dominated income distribution, which, together with working class polarization, led to another round of widening income gaps. An observation of the long-term evolution of world economic development and income distribution gives us a clearer view on the intrinsic rationale of change in income distribution: The mode of production determines the mode of distribution and functional distribution shares intrinsic consistency with quantitative distribution.
基金The authors acknowledge the support of the National Social Science Foundation of China （project number： 10AZD003 09BJL019）, the National Natural Science Foundation （project number： 70933001） and the Key Project in Philosophy and Social Sciences Research of the Ministry of Education （project number： 06JZD0014）.
文摘In this study, we classify the income gap into the total income gap and the inter-group income gap depending on the subjects of study. Measurement and decomposition methods are discussed at three levels： income inequality, polarization, and the inter-group income gap. While income inequality focuses on description of the overall income gap, polarization aims to examine the phenomenon of the ＂clustering effect＂ in income distribution, for which the measurement indexes used can be broadly divided into bi-polarization and multi-polarization indexes. The Shapley decomposition method and decomposition of the distribution of inter- group income differences are cutting edge techniques for the decomposition of the income gap. We also stress the applicability and relevance of income gap measurement indexes and decomposition methods, to facilitate selection of the most appropriate methods for more accurate detection of the causes of the income gap.
