Multidimensional Inequality in South Korea: An Empirical Analysis

Abstract

The objective of this study is to review the theoretical limitations of single dimensional approaches for measuring inequality and to prove the effectiveness and practicality of the concept of "multidimensional inequality" by analyzing the inequality embedded in Korean society. This study constitutes nine dimensions of inequality (income, education, health, employment, social capital, leisure, work-family reconciliation, housing, and social security) and analyzes inequality through the lens of each dimension by using data from of the first to fifth wave of the Korea Welfare Panel Study. The findings show a high degree of correlation among the dimensions of income, education, health, and social capital. However, work-family reconciliation and housing have a relatively low correlation with income and the other dimensions. Second, multidimensional disparities were found between the groups of gender, age, and region. In conclusion, this study found a high degree of overlap between the concepts of income-oriented inequalities and the multidimensional inequality approach. By capturing the notions of the multidimensional disparities that exist in each of the different groups, this study confirmed the effectiveness of multidimensional inequality as a useful concept for informing the creation of social policy intervention to alleviate inequality.

Is Growth Pro‐Poor in Benin? Evidence Using a Multidimensional Measure of Poverty

“…Particularly, effective targeting of the poor should consider much broader poverty measures, such as the multidimensional poverty index. This finding is corroborated by researchers like Jung et al () and Alkire and Foster (), who suggest that monetary measures of poverty may not be sufficient in capturing all aspects of individual livelihood.…”

“…Income obviously affects the living standard of an individual and household. However, even within the same income group, differences or disparities of living standards exist depending on the characteristics and nature of the individual or household (Jung, Kim, & Ahn, ). Consequently, the monetary approach is not sufficient to capture the multiple aspects of poverty.…”

Multidimensional inequality in the European Union. The joint distribution of household income, wealth and consumption

“…Khan et al (2021) investigate multidimensional inequality of household expenditure, education, health, and housing across different occupations in Pakistan. Jung et al (2014) in their research on multidimensional inequality in South Korea cover ten different dimensions of inequalityfrom household incomes and employment, through leisure and work-family reconciliation to social security and social capital. Methods of multidimensional inequality analysis have been also used in the study of racial (Rohde & Guest, 2012) and gender (Permanyer, 2010) disparities.…”