Inequality: A Cross-National Analysis

Abstract

A test of Lenski's theoretical statement concerning the distribution of material rewards within nations, using a measure of inequality developed by Kuznets, is applied to data from 44 non-communist nations and eight communist states. Measures of the principal independent variables specified by Lenski accounted for some 60 percent of the variance in inequality scores in the 44 nations, but large errors of prediction remained. When these nations were divided into high, middle and low GNP strata, an additional group of variables reduced the errors of prediction. Several factors increasing the level of inequality within each stratum appear to be relatively short run effects that may ultimately reduce the level of inequality, while other factors may be outside the control of national decision makers.