Distributional Characteristics of Income Insecurity in the U.S., Germany, and Britain
Author(s)
Rohde, Nicholas
Tang, Kam Ki
Rao, DS Prasada
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2014
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This paper studies income volatility using recent data from the Cross National Equivalence File (CNEF). Measures of downward instability are applied to household income streams and the results are interpreted as indicators of income insecurity. Using this method we examine (i) cross national differences in average insecurity levels, (ii) the effects of taxes and transfers, and (iii) relationships between the insecurity index and household income. Insecurity estimates based on pre-government incomes are highest in Britain and lowest in Germany, however results for post-government incomes are highest in the U.S. It is also ...
View more >This paper studies income volatility using recent data from the Cross National Equivalence File (CNEF). Measures of downward instability are applied to household income streams and the results are interpreted as indicators of income insecurity. Using this method we examine (i) cross national differences in average insecurity levels, (ii) the effects of taxes and transfers, and (iii) relationships between the insecurity index and household income. Insecurity estimates based on pre-government incomes are highest in Britain and lowest in Germany, however results for post-government incomes are highest in the U.S. It is also shown that insecurity estimates based upon pre-government incomes are heavily concentrated at the lower end of the distribution; although governments are effective at smoothing the income streams of these households. We also search for determinants of our measure and find that gender, household size, health status, and industry affiliations of the household head are the most significant covariates.
View less >
View more >This paper studies income volatility using recent data from the Cross National Equivalence File (CNEF). Measures of downward instability are applied to household income streams and the results are interpreted as indicators of income insecurity. Using this method we examine (i) cross national differences in average insecurity levels, (ii) the effects of taxes and transfers, and (iii) relationships between the insecurity index and household income. Insecurity estimates based on pre-government incomes are highest in Britain and lowest in Germany, however results for post-government incomes are highest in the U.S. It is also shown that insecurity estimates based upon pre-government incomes are heavily concentrated at the lower end of the distribution; although governments are effective at smoothing the income streams of these households. We also search for determinants of our measure and find that gender, household size, health status, and industry affiliations of the household head are the most significant covariates.
View less >
Journal Title
Review of Income and Wealth
Volume
60
Subject
Economic theory
Economic theory not elsewhere classified
Applied economics
Applied economics not elsewhere classified