Cherry picking. Issue 11 (7th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hiilamo, Heikki; Kangas, Olli
• Is Part Of: International journal of sociology and social policy. Volume 34:Issue 11/12(2014)
• Page Start: 771
• Page End: 792
• Publication Date: 2014-10-07
• Subjects: Sociology -- Periodicals; Social policy -- Periodicals; 301.05
• DOI: 10.1108/IJSSP-12-2013-0118
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-333X

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Purpose</title> <p> – In their income inequality theory (IIT), posit that income inequality is at the heart of social "ills". However, their critics argue that the hypothesis is biased and that "cherry picking" is used and support for the IIT is obtained by selecting a suitable sample of countries. The paper aims to discuss these issues.</p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Design/methodology/approach</title> <p> – With a sample of 127 countries, the authors study to what extent the correlation between income inequality and social "ills" varies among countries sampled by geography, religion and income level. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Findings</title> <p> – The results of the analysis show that the strength and sometimes the direction of connections between inequality and social "ills" vary according to countries' cultural background and historical legacies. The IIT is not a universal law. However, it is on a firmer footing than competing explanations. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Originality/value</title> <p> – The results contribute both to material and methodological debate on consequences of income inequality.</p> </sec> </abstract>