Measurement and Analysis of Opportunity Inequality in Residents' Income

Zhenghui Jin

doi:10.30560/hssr.v8n3p143

Zhenghui Jin School of Statistics and Applied Mathematics, Anhui University of Finance and Economics, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30560/hssr.v8n3p143

Keywords: income inequality, opportunity inequality

Abstract

Based on data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), this study employs a parametric method to measure the degree of opportunity inequality in residents' income. It analyzes the spatial distribution characteristics across eight regions and delves into the contribution mechanisms of grouped environmental variables to income inequality. The empirical findings reveal that family environment factors consistently serve as the core driving force behind income opportunity inequality, with a persistently stable and significant contribution, underscoring the enduring impact of intergenerational transmission. Regional environmental factors exhibit significant fluctuations in their contributions, which are closely synchronized with the evolution of the overall inequality index, highlighting the pivotal role of regional development disparities in shaping inequality patterns. The contribution of individually controllable factors shows a gradual upward trend, providing a buffering effect, particularly during phases of declining opportunity inequality. Overall, the influence of environmental groupings on income inequality is characterized by a three-dimensional dynamic pattern of "family dominance, regional fluctuation, and individual enhancement."

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