Wage Inequality in the United Kingdom, 1975–99

Author/Editor:

Eswar S Prasad

Publication Date:

February 1, 2002

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary:

This paper provides evidence that cross-sectional wage inequality in the U.K. rose sharply in the 1980s, continued to rise moderately through the mid-1990s and has remained essentially unchanged since then. As in the U.S., increases in within-group inequality account for a substantial fraction of the rise in wage dispersion during 1975-99. Compositional shifts in the occupational and industry structures of aggregate employment are also shown to have had important effects on the evolution of wage inequality. The convergence of the wage distributions for men and women has, however, had a stabilizing effect on the overall wage distribution.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2002/042

Subject:

English

Publication Date:

February 1, 2002

ISBN/ISSN:

9781451846225/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA0422002

Pages:

30

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