The Europeanization of income inequality before and during the eurozone crisis

Inter-, supra- and transnational perspectives

Bibliographic Data

ID23247367
AuthorsMartin Heidenreich (0000-0002-9509-1667, corresponding author)
Year2016
Publication date2016-06-24
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeCHAPTER
VenueExploring Inequality in Europe (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherEdward Elgar Publishing (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.4337/9781783476664.00006
OpenAlexW2795933162
ISBN9781783476664
LanguageEN
Citations received4

Social inequalities can no longer be analysed only in a national context. They are increasingly generated, regulated and perceived at the European level. As a contribution to the emerging sociology of European integration, an international, a supranational and a transnational understanding of the Europeanization of income inequalities is discussed in this article. When Europe is conceived of as an international arena, the patterns and dynamics of inequalities within and between European countries are analysed. When the EU is conceived of as a supranational order, the impact of European decisions and regulations on national patterns of inequality and individual living situations come to the fore. When Europe is understood as a transnational social field, the attention is focused on the growing European interdependence of economic and social relations. Taking the example of income inequalities, the Europeanization of income inequality before and during the current eurozone crisis is analysed in these three perspectives on the basis of EU-SILC data for the period 2005–2012, using multi-level modelling. Firstly, it can be shown that the move towards increasing national income inequalities and the European-wide convergence of income levels has at least temporarily come to an halt. Secondly, national and regional patterns of income inequality are not only shaped by national and regional economic and labour market structures and national institutions, but also by the growing economic integration at the European level. Thirdly, the subjective perception of economic stress is not only evaluated in a national space but also in a transnational space. The perception of economic stress is not only shaped by individual living conditions and national contexts, but also by the transnational income position of the respondents. The European level thus contributes to a better understanding of the dynamics of within- and between-national inequality, of the determinants of inequality patterns and of the subjective perception of inequality.

Context (archaeology) · Convergence (economics) · Demographic economics · Development economics · Economic growth · Economic inequality · Economic policy · Economic system · Economics · European integration · European union · Geography · Inequality · Order (exchange) · Political science · Social inequality · Social Policy and Reform Studies

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