Economic Nature of Social Inequality, The Impacts of Education and Health Expenditures, and Unemployment on Income Inequality in Turkey and Selected OECD Countries

Abstract

Income inequality is one of the important problems that await solution and discussed in developed countries as well as in developing countries. In this empirical study, the impacts of government education expenditures, health expenditures, and unemployment on income inequality has been investigated using panel data set consisting of total 15 selected OECD countries including Turkey for the period of 2002-2018. The results of the analysis revealed that increases in the ratio of government education expenditures to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and health expenditures to GDP contribute to reducing inequality in income distribution, while increase in unemployment rate increase income inequality for the selected OECD countries.

Keywords

• Income inequality
• education
• health
• unemployment
• panel data

Sosyal Eşitsizliğin İktisadi Doğası, Türkiye ve Seçilmiş OECD Ülkelerinde Eğitim ve Sağlık Harcamaları ile İşsizliğin Gelir Eşitsizliği Üzerine Etkileri

Abstract

Gelir eşitsizliği, gelişmekte olan ülkelerde olduğu gibi, gelişmiş ülkelerde de çözüm bekleyen ve üzerinde tartışılan önemli sorunlar arasındadır. Bu ampirik çalışmada, kamu eğitim harcamaları ile sağlık harcamalarının ve işsizliğin gelir eşitsizliği üzerindeki etkilerini 2002-2018 periyodu için Türkiye dahil toplam 15 seçilmiş OECD ülkesinden oluşan panel veri seti kullanarak araştırılmıştır. Analizin sonuçları, seçilmiş OECD ülkelerinde kamu eğitim harcamalarının Gayrisafi Yurtiçi Hasılaya (GSYİH) oranı ve sağlık harcamalarının GSYİH’ye oranındaki artışların gelir dağılımındaki eşitsizliğe azaltıcı anlamda katkı sağladığını, işsizlik oranındaki artışın ise gelir eşitsizliğini artırdığını ortaya koymuştur.

Keywords

• Gelir eşitsizliği
• eğiim
• sağlık
• işsizlik
• panel veri

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