Wealth Inequality Determinants in the EU Members from the CEE Region, 1995-2021 Cover Image

Wealth Inequality Determinants in the EU Members from the CEE Region, 1995-2021
Wealth Inequality Determinants in the EU Members from the CEE Region, 1995-2021

Author(s): Petar Peshev, Kristina Stefanova, Ivanina Mancheva
Subject(s): Economy, National Economy, Public Finances
Published by: Институт за икономически изследвания при Българска академия на науките
Keywords: wealth inequality; wealth determinants; GINI; CEE; panel regression

Summary/Abstract: This paper models wealth concentration in 11 EU members from the CEE region using official data for the period between 1995 and 2021 and applies panel econometric methods. The analysis uses the world inequality database (WID.world) for deriving wealth distribution and inequality measures. Our results suggest that inequality and wealth concentration grow at the expense of the middle class and the poorer half of the population. Regression results suggest that the main contributors to wealth inequality are the Great Recession of 2008–2009, inflation, house prices, and bond prices, while GDP per capita, equity prices and various interest rates restore a more equal net wealth distribution. Other variables are also found to have direct or indirect (instrumental variables) associations with the wealth concentration (the dependent variables).

  • Issue Year: 2023
  • Issue No: 6
  • Page Range: 19-40
  • Page Count: 22
  • Language: English