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Income Inequality and Fiscal Policy (2nd Edition) Author/Editor: Bastagli, Francesca | Coady, David | Gupta, Sanjeev Published: September 27, 2012 Electronic Access: Free Full Text (PDF file size is 802KB) Use the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this PDF file. Summary: Income inequality has increased in most advanced and many developing economies over recent decades, reflecting a range of factors including globalization and technological change. Even more striking is the large variation in average disposable (post-tax-and-transfer) income inequality across regions, much of which can be accounted for by differences in the level and progressivity of tax and spending policies. In advanced economies, fiscal policy has played a significant role in reducing income inequality, especially on the expenditure side but also through progressive income taxation. However, reforms since the mid-1990s have lessened the generosity of social benefits and the progressivity of income tax systems in these economies making fiscal policy less redistributive. This is a revised version of SDN/12/08 (published on June 28, 2012), which incorporates updated data on international Gini coefficients. Figure 1, Table 1, and Appendix Table 1 have been updated to include the new data.   Order a print copy Series: Staff Discussion Notes No. 12/8R Subject(s): Developed countries | Developing countries | Fiscal consolidation | Government expenditures | Income distribution | Taxation | Unemployment   English       Published:   September 27, 2012             ISBN/ISSN:   9781475510850/2221-030X   Format:   Paper     Stock No:   SDNEA2012008R   Pages:   36     Price:   Free               Please address any questions about this title to publications@imf.org.