Graduation Year
Spring 2014
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Department
Economics
Reader 1
Roberto Pedace
Reader 2
Sean Flynn
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
© 2014 Ei Phyu Theint
Abstract
Numerous and countless factors have been theorized to be causes of inequality. This paper started with identifying the most important determinants of income inequality through theoretical research. Among the various theories of causes of inequality, I hypothesized creating a level playing for children at the very start of their career as students as an important determinant. In order to test the hypothesis that a level playing field is important to help fight inequality, a regression tailored for this question is created. I develop a regression model using the variable public expenditure on primary education as the variable to be tested while controlling for other important determinants of inequality including public expenditure per student on all stages of education, unemployment rate, GDP per capita, GDP growth, and governance indicator. The empirical model confirms theory that quality of primary education is highly beneficial for students. I conduct further theoretical research concerning ways to improve the quality of primary education and included them in policy recommendation section.
Recommended Citation
Theint, Ei P., "Empirical Analysis of Causes of Income Inequality: A Level Playing Field for Children at the Start of School Career" (2014). Scripps Senior Theses. 416.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/scripps_theses/416
