The Relationship between Economic Growth and Income Inequality in Iran’s Provinces

Abstract

One of the fundamental problems in regional economic development is determining the ways in which government can allocate resources of society so that economic growth and income equality among provinces can be achieved simultaneously. In this study, a Vector Auto Regressive Model is estimated using seasonal data during Q1: 2000- Q4:2009. Inter-provincial income inequality is obtained with both Gini Coefficient and Theil Index. The results show that, in short run, income inequality among provinces accelerates economic growth and in long run decelerates it, however, it does not return to its initial level. Economic growth in short run accelerates income inequality among provinces, but decelerates it in long run. Robustness tests with Theil Index, confirm our primary results applying Gini Coefficient.

Keywords

• economic growth
• income inequality
• gini coefficient
• theil index
• vector auto regressive model