Moritz Zöllner (p)

One current debate in economics deals with the question whether and how inequality measures are related to socio-economic problems such as crime. Most current studies focus on the analysis of inequality between countries (see, e.g., Fajnzylber et al. 2002a; Fajnzylber et al. 2002b; Krug et al. 2002; Milanovic 2005) and neglect regional differences within a country. If regional differences within a country are observed, mainly US metropolitan areas are analyzed (see, e.g. Tauchen et al. 1994; Grogger 1998; Kelly 2000; Neckerman and Torche 2007). Consequently, we aim at providing insights regarding different economic situations within one country to investigate the relationship between income and educational inequality on regional crime levels by using data from 96 German planning regions. The economic and institutional changes, caused by the reunification between the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany) and West Germany in 1990, led to considerable economic and socio-economic changes that are still ongoing (Fritsch et al. 2014; Maseland 2014). Furthermore, East and West German regions are highly heterogeneous, i.e. with respect to labor market and economic opportunities (see, e.g. Fajnzylber et al. 2002a; Zöllner et al. 2016). In order to capture these regional differences, the dataset used in this paper contains detailed information about regional, educational and economic characteristics for nearly all East and West German planning regions for the years 2010 and 2015. Using Poisson regression, we found that educational inequality has a significantly positive and strong effect on property and violent crime in all German regions, whereas income inequality has no significant effect on violent crime. This partly contradicts previous results in the literature that reveal only positive effects of both inequality measures on violent, but not on property crime. If we differentiate between East and West Germany, a completely different picture emerges. In West Germany, our previous findings still hold, whereas in East Germany neither income inequality nor educational inequality has a significant effect on poverty crime or violent crime. Based on the results of these analyses we draw conclusions for further research and for policy.

Ioannis (Yannis) Psycharis (p), Vassilis Tselios, Panagiotis Pantazis

This paper sets out to estimate the pattern and determinants of income inequality in Greece during the period 2000-2015. Analysis is based on a unique dataset which includes socio-economic, demographic and geographical variables at the municipal level. Estimations of income inequality are based on a sample of individual data of declared income in Greece. By using panel data estimation analysis methods this paper documents that income inequalities are high and persistent. There are also important differences on the geography of income inequality before and during the economic crisis. Analysis also reveals that urbanization and geography are among the important determinants of income inequality. Results are important for urban and regional development theory and policy.

Suzan Christiaanse (p)

Population decline, social-demographic changes and economies of scale often result in the decline of basic facilities and services, which especially affects smaller villages in rural regions. This raises issues about inequality and well-being of rural residents. In the Dutch discourse on population decline, the closure of rural facilities and services is an issue that receives a lot of attention since this is thought to influence peoples satisfaction with the quality of the living environment, referred to as ‘liveability’. Recent studies imply, however, that liveability is dependent on an array of local values in which the availability of facilities and services only plays a minor part. Moreover, access to facilities and services in the Netherlands is quite good due to high rural population densities and high levels of mobility. However, no previous research has looked at the effects of loss of facilities and services over time. According to theory of ‘loss aversion’, stemming from behavioural economics, we value that which we have once possessed higher than something we never had (Tversky and Kahnman, 1991). Some regions or villages are confronted with more change than others, and perhaps ‘inequality of stability’ is the real issue rather than accessibility, or availability of facilities. For this paper we use data from a survey conducted in the northern provinces of the Netherlands (Drenthe, Friesland and Groningen n=4485), to investigate the effect of recent, and past loss of facilities on perceived liveability. We question reactions to change and the perceived importance of the following local facilities and services that are generally deemed important for every-day life: supermarket, primary school, general practitioner, town hall, public transport and atm-machine. Reactions to change are put into perspective using theories from different fields including community resilience, place attachment and loss aversion.

Julien Ciucci, Claire Goavec (p)

The question of wealth inequalities among individuals inside an economic zone is at the center of many concerns and crosses all the levels of society, from the individual agent himself, to the supranational political and economic decision-maker, passing by the various local and national governments or non-governmental organizations and citizens' associations Wealth inequalities of are often designed as the cause of many ills in developed societies, especially because of the feeling of unfairness they can cause to those who suffer from it. In recent years, several massive citizen movements have emerged due to a level of wealth inequality among individuals that has never been higher.
Wealth inequalities among individuals have been a subject of great interest in both theoretical and empirical economic literature for many years. In this paper, we broach the case of Corsica, which seems to be a particularly relevant subject of study. Indeed, Corsica seems to represent a singular economy, compared to other regions of metropolitan France. Insularity, low population, economic activity mainly based on public employment and tourism, are all characteristics that can be source of a certain economic vulnerability and dependence on its patron state.
Parallel to these singularities, INSEE data seem to indicate that Corsica is particularly affected by wealth inequalities, more than most other French regions. Indeed, it has a poverty rate and interdecile gaps among the highest in metropolitan France.
The purpose of this paper is to analyze to what extent the specific character of corsican economy can explain the scale of these inequalities. We propose to approach this question from both a theoretical and empirical point of view.