Motivation: The income inequalities are considered an important economic and social problem, because increasing income inequalities may make it difficult to achieve such policy goals as: social cohesion and inclusive development. State's interference through redistribution is aimed to decrease the differences between the rich and poor. Even though social transfers alleviate the income inequalities, the extent to which they decrease the gap between the rich and the poor is different in European Union (EU) countries. The answer to the question of redistribution effectiveness is extremely important from this perspective.Aim: The article aims to present the diversity of EU countries from the perspective of income inequalities, social transfers (government expenditures on social protection, health and education) and finally redistribution. Its aim is also to assess the impact of social transfers on inequalities on the basis of dynamic panel data model.Results: There is no significant relationship between the level of social transfers and Gini disposable income. However, the results of regression analysis proved that government expenditures on social protection significantly increase the difference between market and disposable income inequalities (Gini gap) and therefore more effectively decrease income inequalities.
Motivation: The income inequalities are considered an important economic and social problem, because increasing income inequalities may make it difficult to achieve such policy goals as: social cohesion and inclusive development. State's interference through redistribution is aimed to decrease the differences between the rich and poor. Even though social transfers alleviate the income inequalities, the extent to which they decrease the gap between the rich and the poor is different in European Union (EU) countries. The answer to the question of redistribution effectiveness is extremely important from this perspective.Aim: The article aims to present the diversity of EU countries from the perspective of income inequalities, social transfers (government expenditures on social protection, health and education) and finally redistribution. Its aim is also to assess the impact of social transfers on inequalities on the basis of dynamic panel data model.Results: There is no significant relationship between the level of social transfers and Gini disposable income. However, the results of regression analysis proved that government expenditures on social protection significantly increase the difference between market and disposable income inequalities (Gini gap) and therefore more effectively decrease income inequalities.
The paper examines the links between the consciousness of sustainable consumption (CSC) and middle-income class affiliation. It contributes to two contemporarily important issues, namely sustainable consumption and the role of the middle-income class in sustainable development from the perspective of the economic processes in a post-socialist state. Considering consumption as the determinant for socioeconomic stratification, it is assumed that sustainable consumption consciousness is positively related to income-class affiliation. In the present study, two econometric models, namely logit models, were estimated regarding differences between objective and subjective middle-income class affiliations. The study is based on data collected in the middle-income class in Poland in 2021. The results of the study showed that the probability of sustainable consumption consciousness is higher when individuals classify themselves as lower middle-income class based on their cognitive frame, not knowing what the income thresholds for the income classes in Poland are. It means that subjective evaluation of one's material position matters for sustainable consumption consciousness more than objective class belonging. As economic policy recommendations, it is suggested that educational programs be designed to inform people about income class thresholds to avoid devaluation of their income situation as well as dedicated actions to develop discernment about sustainable consumption behaviors.
Purpose: The article aims to present and discuss associations between the strictness of employment protection (EP) and job satisfaction. It also aims to answer the research question if higher strictness of EP is inversely correlated with lower job satisfaction across the selected European Union-OECD (EU-OECD) member countries. Approach/Methodology/Design: The article's theoretical part discusses the links between the EP and job satisfaction based on studied literature. In the methodological part, EP's analysis with sub-indicators (OECD) and job satisfaction, including cohorts (Eurostat), is performed. EU-OECD countries were grouped into 3 clusters from EP sub-indices' perspective and analyzed using employment protection and job satisfaction characteristics. Besides the taxonomic methods, the Pearson-correlation to identify relationships between EP and job satisfaction was calculated. Findings: Three groups of countries with different strictness of EP were characterized with different job satisfaction levels. The group with the strictest EP reported the lowest level of job satisfaction and conversely. The significant negative Pearson correlation proved this kind of relationship. Practical Implications: The article brings valuable conclusions about the relationships between EP and job satisfaction. The negative significant association between EP and job satisfaction reveals the labor market policy implications towards higher flexibility with a low risk of being unemployed on the labor market to increase job satisfaction. The job satisfaction reported by vulnerable groups on the labor market (such as old and women) is more strongly inversely related to job satisfaction. Originality/Value: The results of the conducted analysis complement the current scientific interest in the field of both: the analysis of overall life satisfaction (psychological well-being in different dimensions of life) and job security (employment protection legislation). ; peer-reviewed
The diversity of the labour market in the Visegrad Group countries is presented in the article from an institutional perspective. Institutions such as different tax and transfer policies, employment protection legislation, or active and passive labour market policies can affect not only the effectiveness of the economy from a macro perspective, but they can also be crucial in determining the system of rules and incentives for earning money. The institutional conditions of the labour market directly affect the behaviour of labour market participants, their incomes, and therefore income inequalities. To asses and compare the situation between the Visegrad group countries, a synthetic measure of labour market institutions is calculated. A taxonomic analysis is done to group the V4 countries against other selected European Union countries, which enables the assessment and comparison of similarities and differences across the Visegrad countries. Finally, the trade-offs between a synthetic measure of labour market institutions and income inequalities are analysed. The Pearson correlation coefficient and, additionally, the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient are applied. The analysis is done for 2016, as it was the most recent data available while writing the article. The results from such an analysis can help to answer the question of the state's role in limiting income inequalities through labour market institutions and to identify the policies which are the most effective in this field.
The diversity of the labour market in the Visegrad Group countries is presented in the article from an institutional perspective. Institutions such as different tax and transfer policies, employment protection legislation, or active and passive labour market policies can affect not only the effectiveness of the economy from a macro perspective, but they can also be crucial in determining the system of rules and incentives for earning money. The institutional conditions of the labour market directly affect the behaviour of labour market participants, their incomes, and therefore income inequalities. To asses and compare the situation between the Visegrad group countries, a synthetic measure of labour market institutions is calculated. A taxonomic analysis is done to group the V4 countries against other selected European Union countries, which enables the assessment and comparison of similarities and differences across the Visegrad countries. Finally, the trade-offs between a synthetic measure of labour market institutions and income inequalities are analysed. The Pearson correlation coefficient and, additionally, the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient are applied. The analysis is done for 2016, as it was the most recent data available while writing the article. The results from such an analysis can help to answer the question of the state's role in limiting income inequalities through labour market institutions and to identify the policies which are the most effective in this field. ; W artykule przedstawiono różnorodność rynku pracy w krajach Grupy Wyszehradzkiej z perspektywy ekonomii instytucjonalnej. Instytucje takie jak: regulacje w zakresie podatków i transferów, przepisy dotyczące ochrony zatrudnienia lub aktywna i pasywna polityka rynku pracy mogą wpływać nie tylko na efektywność gospodarki z perspektywy makroekonomicznej, ale również odgrywać kluczową rolę w określaniu systemu zasad i zachęt do zarabiania pieniędzy. W tej perspektywie warunki instytucjonalne rynku pracy bezpośrednio wpływają na zachowanie uczestników rynku pracy, ich dochody, a tym samym nierówności dochodowe. W celu dokonania oceny i porównania sytuacji między krajami Grupy Wyszehradzkiej, obliczono syntetyczną miarę instytucji rynku pracy. Ponadto przeprowadzono analizę taksonomiczną, w efekcie której pogrupowano kraje V4 względem wybranych krajów Unii Europejskiej. Takie działanie umożliwiło ocenę i porównanie podobieństw i różnic między krajami wyszehradzkimi. Finalnie podjęto próbę identyfikacji i oceny związków między syntetyczną miarą instytucji rynku pracy a nierównościami dochodowymi. Zastosowano współczynnik korelacji Pearsona i dodatkowo współczynnik korelacji rang Spearmana. Wyniki analizy są próbą odpowiedzi na pytanie o rolę państwa w ograniczaniu nierówności dochodowych za pomocą instytucji rynku pracy i pomagają zidentyfikować te działania, które są najbardziej skuteczne w analizowanej dziedzinie.
The diversity of the labour market in the Visegrad Group countries is presented in the article from an institutional perspective. Institutions such as different tax and transfer policies, employment protection legislation, or active and passive labour market policies can affect not only the effectiveness of the economy from a macro perspective, but they can also be crucial in determining the system of rules and incentives for earning money. The institutional conditions of the labour market directly affect the behaviour of labour market participants, their incomes, and therefore income inequalities. To asses and compare the situation between the Visegrad group countries, a synthetic measure of labour market institutions is calculated. A taxonomic analysis is done to group the V4 countries against other selected European Union countries, which enables the assessment and comparison of similarities and differences across the Visegrad countries. Finally, the trade-offs between a synthetic measure of labour market institutions and income inequalities are analysed. The Pearson correlation coefficient and, additionally, the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient are applied. The analysis is done for 2016, as it was the most recent data available while writing the article. The results from such an analysis can help to answer the question of the state's role in limiting income inequalities through labour market institutions and to identify the policies which are the most effective in this field. ; W artykule przedstawiono różnorodność rynku pracy w krajach Grupy Wyszehradzkiej z perspektywy ekonomii instytucjonalnej. Instytucje takie jak: regulacje w zakresie podatków i transferów, przepisy dotyczące ochrony zatrudnienia lub aktywna i pasywna polityka rynku pracy mogą wpływać nie tylko na efektywność gospodarki z perspektywy makroekonomicznej, ale również odgrywać kluczową rolę w określaniu systemu zasad i zachęt do zarabiania pieniędzy. W tej perspektywie warunki instytucjonalne rynku pracy bezpośrednio wpływają na zachowanie uczestników rynku pracy, ich dochody, a tym samym nierówności dochodowe. W celu dokonania oceny i porównania sytuacji między krajami Grupy Wyszehradzkiej, obliczono syntetyczną miarę instytucji rynku pracy. Ponadto przeprowadzono analizę taksonomiczną, w efekcie której pogrupowano kraje V4 względem wybranych krajów Unii Europejskiej. Takie działanie umożliwiło ocenę i porównanie podobieństw i różnic między krajami wyszehradzkimi. Finalnie podjęto próbę identyfikacji i oceny związków między syntetyczną miarą instytucji rynku pracy a nierównościami dochodowymi. Zastosowano współczynnik korelacji Pearsona i dodatkowo współczynnik korelacji rang Spearmana. Wyniki analizy są próbą odpowiedzi na pytanie o rolę państwa w ograniczaniu nierówności dochodowych za pomocą instytucji rynku pracy i pomagają zidentyfikować te działania, które są najbardziej skuteczne w analizowanej dziedzinie.
Motivation: The study of poverty is extremely important because of the negative impact it can have on the economy. Improving the situation of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion is one of the most important objectives of the social policy both in Poland and in the European Union. The aim is consistent with such official Polish documents as: Strategy for the Development of Human Capital 2020 National Development Strategy 2020.Aim: The aim of the article is to assess the risk of poverty and social exclusion in Poland in the period 2006–2015, and to compare the degree of risk of poverty in Poland and other European Union countries.Results: The study shows that the risk of poverty in Poland decreased in the analyzed period. In comparison to the EU countries, Poland made the greatest progress in reducing the risk of poverty. Dynamics of changes in reducing the risk of poverty in Poland was the highest among the EU countries. The scale of the risk of poverty in Poland in 2006 was one of the highest (with a higher risk noted only in Latvia). The situation in Poland in 2015 indicated that in 2015 the degree of risk of poverty was lower in Poland than in many EU countries: Portugal, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Cyprus, Italy, Spain, Greece, Ireland, Estonia. In addition, the world economic crisis of 2008–2010 did not affect the risk of poverty in Poland. In most EU countries during the crisis the risk of poverty increased, however in Poland it declined. This undoubtedly allowed for improving the situation in Poland to a higher extent than in other EU countries.
Motivation: The study of poverty is extremely important because of the negative impact it can have on the economy. Improving the situation of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion is one of the most important objectives of the social policy both in Poland and in the European Union. The aim is consistent with such official Polish documents as: Strategy for the Development of Human Capital 2020 National Development Strategy 2020.Aim: The aim of the article is to assess the risk of poverty and social exclusion in Poland in the period 2006–2015, and to compare the degree of risk of poverty in Poland and other European Union countries.Results: The study shows that the risk of poverty in Poland decreased in the analyzed period. In comparison to the EU countries, Poland made the greatest progress in reducing the risk of poverty. Dynamics of changes in reducing the risk of poverty in Poland was the highest among the EU countries. The scale of the risk of poverty in Poland in 2006 was one of the highest (with a higher risk noted only in Latvia). The situation in Poland in 2015 indicated that in 2015 the degree of risk of poverty was lower in Poland than in many EU countries: Portugal, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Cyprus, Italy, Spain, Greece, Ireland, Estonia. In addition, the world economic crisis of 2008–2010 did not affect the risk of poverty in Poland. In most EU countries during the crisis the risk of poverty increased, however in Poland it declined. This undoubtedly allowed for improving the situation in Poland to a higher extent than in other EU countries.
