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Effects Of Income Inequality

Decent Essays

Equality is one of the biggest concerns in most societies. Independent of philosophy, culture, or religion, the society always care about this growing issue. Inequalities are shown in diverse ways by people’s position in the distribution of wealth or income but could also be related to other characteristics like having a disability, different ethnicity or background or gender. In the 2005 World Development Report elaborated by the World Bank, it is stated: “We now have considerable evidence that equity is also instrumental to the pursuit of long-term prosperity in aggregate terms for society as a whole” (World Bank,2005). However, the increasing growth inequality experienced in many developed and developing countries in recent times is …show more content…

(Castillo-Merino, Sjoberg 2008). The impact in inequality is argued to occur in both ways, through the increasing demand for skilled workers and by the elimination of lower and middle skill jobs which leads to an increasing competition for these lower-wage jobs. (Kochan, Riordan 2015)

Another reason given for explaining inequality is Globalization. It is argued that the increase in trade and offshoring has contributed to income inequality. Countries such as India, China and Brazil are known to have very cheap labour costs and have become more competitive in the global market. As a result, when imports from these countries arrive, the products manufactured in the host country cannot compete with the prices, leading to job losses in these industries. Some studies have showed that since the 80’s, USA lost over one-third of its manufacturing jobs, additionally, workers that were displaced from manufacturing jobs but regain employment suffered a reduction in their wages of at least 20% Offshoring has also make an impact in jobs and wages, US firms during 2002-2008 had an increase in offshoring practices due to lower cost and “this resulted in an advantage by higher-skilled workers who undertake more abstract and communication dependent tasks in their jobs”(Kochan, Riordan 2015). Another growing issue in certain countries is immigrants, and especially those that arrive illegally. They are more

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