This paper analyses the structure of the European income inequality by a decomposition in a within- and between-component.
It illustrates a replication of the work of Beblo and Knaus (Rev Income Wealth 47(3):301-333, 2001) and decomposes the income
inequality for the EU 28 in 2014 by using data from the European Survey on Income and Living Conditions. The Theil index is
applied to additionally decompose the sources of inequality into a within- and between-component by countries, country groups
and demographic groups. This is done by using equivalised disposable household income and income before transfers and taxes.
The results show that inequality, with regard to disposable income, is highest for households with household heads older than
59 years and lowest for households with children. Moreover, high income countries have lower inequality, higher social expenditures
and show a stronger relative reduction of income inequality after transfers and taxes than low income countries. On country
group level, Social-Democratic countries have the lowest income inequality and redistribute most, while the opposite holds
true for Baltic countries.
Research group:Labour Economics, Income and Social Security