1. SOSC 103D Social Inequality in HK Lecture 1: Understand HK ’ s Situation

2. L1: 31.01.07 Types of Inequality Income and Wealth inequality Cultural inequality Political inequality Racial inequality/ inequality of ethnic origin Gender inequality …… Inequality of resources VS opportunities

3. L1: 31.01.07 Statistics about Hong Kong Per capita GDP: US$ 37,400 (year 2006) Median Household Income ~ HK$ 19,000 The Gini Coefficient of Income Distribution: 0.525 (year 2006)  Ways to understand the statistics:  International/ Regional comparison  Cross-sectional comparison  Longitudinal comparison

4. L1: 31.01.07 International Comparison Per capita GDP: US$ 37,400 (year 2006) Rank 1 st in Asia; 8 th – 15 th in the World The Gini Coefficient of Income Distribution: 0.525 (year 2006) Worst among developed nations/ areas Other e.g.: China (0.403); Taiwan (0.326); Singapore (0.425)

5. L1: 31.01.07 Cross-sectional Comparison Income differences within population Year 2001 Median Household Income: HK$ 18,704

6. L1: 31.01.07 The poorest 10% of households received less than 1% of the total income. The richest 10% of households received 41.2% of the total.

7. L1: 31.01.07 Cross-sectional Comparison Income inequality by gender In 2003, estimated earned income for female: US$ 19,593; For male: US$ 35,037 Ratio: 0.56 Inequality by Race and by Ethnic Origin

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9. Longitudinal Analysis Year 1971197619811986199119962001 Gini Coefficient 0.420.430.4510.4530.4760.5180.525

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11. Income Inequality in Hong Kong Relations between economic growth and income distribution Economic development Increase in living standard (absolute) Bring equality (relative)

12. L1: 31.01.07 Readings: Lui, Hon-Kwong (1997) Income Inequality and Economic Development, Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong Press, ch.1-3