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1 – 10 of 575Désiré Avom, Nesta Ntsame Ovono and Emmanuel Ongo Nkoa
This study aims to analyze the effects of natural resource rents on income inequality.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyze the effects of natural resource rents on income inequality.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a panel quantile regression (QR) approach for 42 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries over the period 1998–2018.
Findings
The results show that natural resource rents have a negative and statistically significant effect on income inequality. Regarding the types of resources, the results show that coal rents increase inequality, while forestry and oil rents reduce income inequality. The results also show that the effects of mining and gas rents vary along the income inequality distribution. Finally, the results reveal a negative and significant effect of natural resource rents on income inequality in all sub-regions except Southern Africa.
Practical implications
The results suggest that the SSA Governments should intensify the implementation of income redistribution policies such as family allowances to poor families with multiple children and public sector job creation. SSA policymakers should also increase access to electricity, and internet, and allocate a portion of oil revenues to create an intergenerational sovereign wealth fund.
Originality/value
First, few studies have analyzed the effects of various types of natural resource rents on income inequality. To this end, this study used the QR method to examine the impact of natural resource rents on inequality, by laying emphasis on various types of natural resources. This study takes into account the likely heterogeneity across countries that may exist when considering a sample such as SSA countries, by examining the effects in the different sub-regions that make up this part of Africa (Central Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa and East Africa).
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Jenine Beekhuyzen, Liisa von Hellens and Sue Nielsen
This paper aims to investigate the rules and rituals for joining and operating within underground music file sharing communities as well as the members' motivations for joining.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the rules and rituals for joining and operating within underground music file sharing communities as well as the members' motivations for joining.
Design/methodology/approach
Actor‐network theory is combined with an ethnographic methodology to explore the structure, technology and rules of these communities from an actor‐oriented, member perspective. Empirical data include in‐depth interviews with three file sharers, and participant‐observations for 120 days within an online community.
Findings
The paper provides an increased understanding of the structured and orderly nature of underground music file sharing communities and the perceived importance of strong rules and rituals for membership. Many communities use the same open‐source software.
Research limitations/implications
Only a small number of file sharers (three) were interviewed. However they provide rich insights into this under‐researched topic.
Practical implications
An understanding of these sophisticated underground file sharing communities assists the further development of legitimate online music systems to appeal to the large number of individuals involved in music file sharing communities.
Social implications
This paper provides an understanding of the practices within a subculture that is currently regarded as deviant and illegal, and contributes to the discussion and policy formulation on file sharing.
Originality/value
This study is the only known ethnography investigating underground music file sharing communities. These communities have not been systematically studied previously and the paper addresses this lack of research literature. This study is also novel as it applies actor‐network theory to a context to which it has not previously been applied.
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This paper aims to examine the interaction between formal and informal organisation of work inside the pit, with reference to the informal working or coping strategy of “making a…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the interaction between formal and informal organisation of work inside the pit, with reference to the informal working or coping strategy of “making a plan” (planisa).
Design/methodology/approach
The research for this paper was ethnographic in nature and the participant observation was the main research technique used in the field.
Findings
The underground gold miners make a plan or engage in planisa to offset the production bottlenecks which affected their capacity to achieve their production targets and increase their bonus earnings. They “get on and get by” underground in order to cope with organisational constraints and management inefficiencies.
Originality/value
The paper highlights the limits of formal organisation of work and the significance of gold miners’ informal work strategy of making a plan (planisa) as an existing and alternative working practice that shapes their subjective orientation, agency and resilience to work structures and managerial strategies. Any strategy designed to improve the health, safety and productivity of underground miners must recognise, elaborate and systematically articulate the workplace culture of planisa as an existing work practice in the day‐to‐day running of the production process down the mine.
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Dinesh Sivaguru and Kamal Tilakasiri
The purpose of the study is to examine the available literature to comprehend what the underground banking system is, for what purposes this method is used and how policymakers…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the study is to examine the available literature to comprehend what the underground banking system is, for what purposes this method is used and how policymakers should proceed to address this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach involved conducting this study and combining it with a critical analysis of the available literature as well as the available historical data. The sources the study has explored include government documents, public hearings, academic articles, case studies and articles available on the internet.
Findings
The study revealed prevention of illegal proceeds is critical, still regulating one entity, is a phenomenon of Boyle’s law, “squeezing the balloon”. If one end of the balloon is squeezed, making the volume smaller, the pressure inside increases, making the un-squeezed part of the balloon expand out. The real issue is not how criminals transfer their illegal earnings; it is the criminals themselves. Hence, the policy decision on this issue needs to be carefully considered.
Research limitations/implications
Due to the complexity of the operating system of Undiyal, this study had a number of limitations, as do many others. Firstly, there are no records of the Undiyal agents or the volumes of transactions publicly available. However, comprehending the scope of the underground operation that exists in the country is quite difficult.
Practical implications
The study contributes to the academic researchers grasping what type of future research should be focused on in this area according to the study.
Social implications
From the point of view of its practical application, the study seeks to resolve social issues that the middle-class population experiences on a daily basis and that have a huge and adverse impact on GDP.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is an original contribution.
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Lisa Ringblom and Maria Johansson
This study aims to deepen the understanding of inequality regimes in male-dominated industries, specifically in Swedish forestry and mining, by exploring how conceptions of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to deepen the understanding of inequality regimes in male-dominated industries, specifically in Swedish forestry and mining, by exploring how conceptions of gender, class and place are articulated and intertwined when doing gender equality in these organizations.
Design/methodology/approach
The article draws on empirical material from four research and development projects inspired by a feminist action research methodology.
Findings
This paper shows how gender equality works in these male-dominated organizations simultaneously constructing gender, class and place. When men are at the focal point of gender equality, our empirical findings suggest that blue-collar workers in rural areas are described as “being the problem” for gender inequality in these organizations. Addressing specific groups such as women or blue-collar workers in rural areas is not enough to challenge the inequality regimes that exist in these organizations, since a unilateral focus on certain groups leads to skewed problem formulations.
Originality/value
Research on gender equality work and its relation to intersectionality in male-dominated industries is limited, and by focusing on men and masculinities, this paper contributes to knowledge concerning gender equality in male-dominated industrial organizations.
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This paper aims to bring into surface two major socioeconomic problems of Greece, tax evasion and shadow economy.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to bring into surface two major socioeconomic problems of Greece, tax evasion and shadow economy.
Design/methodology/approach
It examines the determinants and the factors that led to the formation and expansion of tax evasion and subsequently of black economy. Empirical data and related research are used to provide a clearer view of the existing situation.
Findings
Tax evasion and shadow economy are proved to remain two of the most severe problems that torture Greek economy. The factors that contribute the most to the formation of these phenomena are the lack of tax awareness, the tax burden, the structure of the tax system, the role of the state, the level of approvement of public authority, self-employment, unemployment and the level of organization of the economy. Except from the negative characteristics, positive ones are also identified, and certain policies are suggested so as to combat tax evasion and black economy.
Originality/value
The paper highlights two major issues that constitute the deadly weakness of the Greek economy, providing a holistic view of the current situation, identifying the roots of the problem and suggesting specific measures.
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James Temitope Dada, Folorunsho M. Ajide and Marina Arnaut
The purpose of this examine the impact of income inequality and shadow economy on environmental degradation given the growing income inequality, shadow economy and ecological…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this examine the impact of income inequality and shadow economy on environmental degradation given the growing income inequality, shadow economy and ecological degradation in developing countries. Thus, this study is motivated to offer empirical insight into how income inequality and shadow economy influence the environment in African countries.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from 29 countries in Africa between 2000 and 2017 were used, while the novel method of moments quantile regression of Machado and Silva (2019) and Dumitrescu and Hurlin (D-H) (2012) granger causality is used as the estimation techniques.
Findings
The results established the presence of cross-sectional dependence and slope heterogeneity in the panel, while Westerlund panel cointegration confirmed the long-run cointegration among the variables. The results from the quantile regression suggest that income inequality increases environmental degradation from the 5th to the 30th quantiles, while from the 70th quantiles, income inequality reduces ecological degradation. The shadow economy negatively influences environmental degradation across the quantiles, strengthening environmental quality. Per capita income (economic growth) and financial development positively impact environmental degradation throughout the quantiles. However, urbanization reduces environmental degradation from 60th to 95th quantiles. The D-H causality established a two-way relationship between income inequality and environmental degradation, while one-way from shadow economy, per capita income and urbanization to environmental degradation were established.
Originality/value
This study provides fresh insights into the nexus between shadow economy and environmental quality in the presence of higher levels of income inequality for the case of African region. The study applies quantile analysis via moment proposed by Machado and Silva (2019). This technique shows that the impact of income inequality and shadow economy on environmental degradation is heterogeneous across the quantiles of ecological footprints in Africa.
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Examines the process of systemic disintegration in the USSR broughtabout by perestroika, demokratizatsiya and glasnost.Places Soviet economic crises in a broader political and…
Abstract
Examines the process of systemic disintegration in the USSR brought about by perestroika, demokratizatsiya and glasnost. Places Soviet economic crises in a broader political and nationalities context. Concludes that liberalization and democratization led both to the break‐up of the Communist system and that of the imperial state.
Wai Weng Yap, Tamat Sarmidi, Abu Hassan Shaari and Fathin Faizah Said
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the nonlinear relationship between shadow economy and income inequality and determine whether the size of shadow economy can influence…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the nonlinear relationship between shadow economy and income inequality and determine whether the size of shadow economy can influence the level of income inequality.
Design/methodology/approach
Both parametric (panel OLS) and nonparametric/semiparametric regression suggested by Robinson (1988) will be used to capture the dynamic nonlinear relationship between these variables using unbalanced panel data of 154 countries from 2000 to 2007. Additionally, the relationship between income inequality and shadow economy on both developed and developing countries will be analyzed and compared.
Findings
First, semiparametric analysis and nonparametric analysis are significantly different than parametric analysis and better in nonlinear analysis between income inequality and shadow economy. Second, income inequality and shadow economy resemble an inverted-N relationship. Third, the relationship between income inequality and shadow economy is different in developed countries (OECD countries) and developing countries, where OECD countries have similar inverted-N relationship as before. However, for developing countries, income inequality and shadow economy show an inverted-U relationship, similar to the original Kuznets hypothesis.
Practical implications
This study suggests that there is a possible trade-off between income inequality and shadow economy and helps policy makers in solving both problems effectively.
Originality/value
Despite the growing importance of income inequality and shadow economy, literature linking the two variables is scarce. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no literature that nonlinearly links these two variables. Furthermore, the dynamics of the relationship between these two variables in developed countries and developing countries will be explored as well.
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Fuat M. Andic and Suphan Andic
Income and wealth inequality is a constant concern in our society. It becomes more acute at certain times than at others. The Great Depression raised the concern; so did the…
Abstract
Income and wealth inequality is a constant concern in our society. It becomes more acute at certain times than at others. The Great Depression raised the concern; so did the political circumstances in the 1960s when attention was focused on the state of the poor and of racial groups who were failing to participate in the national affluence.