Relationship Between Human Capital and Income Distribution of a Developing Economy: Empirical Evidence From Ethiopia

Author:

Degu Zemed1,Singh Lakhwinder2ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Department of Economics, Oromia State University, Ethiopia

2. Institute for Human Development (IHD), India; Department of Economics, Punjabi University, India

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the long-run effect of human capital accumulation on the income distribution of a developing economy such as Ethiopia. Study design: The study is based on time series data covering the period from 1980/1981 to 2019/2020. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds co-integration test and error correction model approach is employed as a method of econometric estimation. Findings: The bounds test revealed a significant and stable long-run equilibrium relationships exist between income inequality (Gini coefficient) and its dynamic regressors of human capital accumulation indicators as well as other explanatory variables. Results of the estimated long-run selected model indicated that secondary and tertiary education attainments as well as total fertility rate have a significant un-equalizing income distribution effect on the country’s economy at the conventional level of significance in the long run. On the contrary, primary education attainment of the labor force has a positive and statistically significant impact on the country’s distribution of income at the standard level of significance. On the contrary, the employment-to-population size ratio has a positive effect, but financial development and institutional and governance quality have an adverse effect on the income distribution of the country in the long run. With respect to the short-run error correction model result, a temporary disequilibrium level of income distribution in the previous period is corrected by approximately 0.9284 in the current period to bring back to a stable long-run equilibrium. Based on these findings, it is important to strengthen and improve the country’s education and health service system for those individuals who are marginalized and deprived from these levels of social services. Originality/value: A few empirical studies on the dynamics between human capital and income distribution have been conducted at cross-country using average years of schooling as a proxy measure of human capital. The novelty of this study is that it examines the relationship between human capital and income distribution at a single country level using the ARDL bounds co-integration and error correction model approach. Furthermore, human capital accumulation is proxied by both education capital (disaggregated by primary, secondary, and tertiary educational attainments) and health capital (life expectancy at birth and total fertility rate) in addition to other relevant explanatory variables for better estimation and policy implications. JEL classification B23, C22, I14, I24, O15

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Subject

Development,Geography, Planning and Development

Cited by 1 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3