| dc.description.abstract | Income inequality remains a structural issue in developing economies,
including BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). Despite
their strong economic growth, these nations continue to experience uneven income
distribution. This study examines the macroeconomic determinants of income
inequality in BRICS countries during the 1993–2022 period. The dependent
variable is income inequality measured by the Gini Index, while the independent
variables include economic growth, urbanization, inflation, and the Human
Development Index (HDI).
The study employs secondary panel data obtained from the World Bank and
UNDP. The analysis is conducted using panel data regression with the Fixed Effect
Model (FEM), selected based on the Chow, Hausman, and Lagrange Multiplier
tests.
The results show that economic growth and HDI have a significant negative
effect on income inequality, while urbanization and inflation have a significant
positive effect. Simultaneously, all independent variables significantly influence
income inequality in BRICS countries. These findings highlight the importance of
inclusive economic policies, inflation control, and equitable human development to
reduce income disparities within the BRICS economies. | en_US |
