Fiscal Transfer Policies and Road Infrastructure Reduce Income Inequality in Rural-Urban Areas

Khusaini Khusaini, Bambang Mardisentosa, Tetuko Rawidyo Putro

Abstract


Fiscal transfer policies and road infrastructure are essential in reducing inequality in Indonesia. However, previous research examining the effect of fiscal transfer policies and road infrastructure still came up with inconclusive findings, thus making it necessary to conduct further research on rural, urban, and sub-national areas in Indonesia. This study examines the impact of fiscal transfer policies and road infrastructure on reducing income inequality in rural, urban, and sub-national areas. The authors utilized time-series data from 2012 to 2021 and 34 provinces. The fixed effect GLS model showed that Kuznets' hypothesis existed at rural, urban, and sub-national levels. The results also showed that the special allocations fund significantly reduced income inequality in rural, urban, and sub-national areas. However, road infrastructure was significant only in urban areas. The findings suggest that the special allocation fund policy can be expanded in scope and increased in number to accelerate the reduction in income inequality.

JEL Classification: O15, L92, O18, O23

How to Cite:
Khusaini, K., Sentosa, B. M., & Putro, T. R. (2023). Fiscal Policies and Road Infrastructure Reduce Income Inequality in Rural-Urban Areas. Etikonomi, 22(2), 333 – 356. https://doi.org/10.15408/etk.v22i2.28618.


Keywords


inequality; road infrastructure; rural; special allocation funds; urban

References


Afandi, A., Rantung, V. P., & Marashdeh, H. (2017). Determinant of Income Inequality in Indonesia. Economic Journal of Emerging Markets, 9(2), 159–171. https://doi.org/10.20885/ejem.vol9.iss2.art5.

Agusalim, L., & Pohan, F. S. (2018). Trade Openness Effect on Income Inequality: Empirical Evidence from Indonesia. Signifikan: Jurnal Ilmu Ekonomi, 7(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.15408/sjie.v7i1.5527.

Aktas, E. E., & Iyidogan, P. V. (2022). Nonlinear Effects of Income Inequality on Economic Growth: A Comparative Analysis of Selected Countries. Economic Journal of Emerging Markets, 14(1), 72–84. https://doi.org/10.20885/ejem.vol14.iss1.art6.

Allison, P. D. (1978). Measures of Inequality. American Sociological Review, 43(6), 865–880. https://doi.org/10.2307/2094626.

Badan Pusat Statistik. (2020). Statistik Indonesia 2020. Jakarta: Badan Pusat Statistik.

Badan Pusat Statistik. (2021). Penghitungan dan Analisis Kemiskinan Makro Indonesia Tahun 2021. Jakarta: Badan Pusat Statistik..

Badan Pusat Statistik. (2022). Statistik Indonesia 2022.. Jakarta: Badan Pusat Statistik.

Baltagi, B. H. (2005). Econometric Analysis of Panel Data (Third). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Beck, N. (2001). Time-Series–Cross-Section Data: What Have We Learned in the Past Few Years? Annual Review of Political Science, 4(1), 271–293. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.polisci.4.1.271.

Benhabib, J., & Bisin, A. (2018). Skewed Wealth Distributions: Theory and Empirics. Journal of Economic Literature, 56(4), 1261–1291. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.20161390.

Bloome, D., Dyer, S., & Zhou, X. (2018). Educational Inequality, Educational Expansion, and Intergenerational Income Persistence in the United States. American Sociological Review, 83(6), 1215–1253. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122418809374.

Bourguignon, F. (2004). The Poverty-Growth-Inequality Triangle. Presented at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations.

Canare, T., Francisco, J. P., & Caliso, R. A. C. (2020). Decentralization and Income Inequality in a Panel and Cross-Section of Countries. Journal of International Development, 32(4), 543–579. https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.3468.

Cevik, S., & Correa-Caro, C. (2020). Growing (un)equal: Fiscal Policy and Income Inequality in China and BRIC+. Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, 25(4), 634–653. https://doi.org/10.1080/13547860.2019.1699985.

Chan, K. S., Zhou, X., & Pan, Z. (2014). The Growth and Inequality Nexus: The Case of China. International Review of Economics & Finance, 34, 230–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2014.08.004.

Chancel, L., Piketty, T., Saez, E., & Zucman, G. (2022). World Inequality Report 2022. Retrieved from:https://wir2022.wid.world/www-site/uploads/2022/03/009821_wil_rim_executive_ summary.pdf

Chatterjee, S., & Turnovsky, S. J. (2012). Infrastructure and Inequality. European Economic Review, 56(8), 1730–1745. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2012.08.003.

Chen, X., Zhang, X., Song, Y., Liang, X., Wang, L., & Geng, Y. (2020). Fiscal Decentralization, Urban-rural Income Gap, and Tourism. Sustainability, 12(24), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410398.

Churchill, S. A., Baako, K. T., Mintah, K., & Zhang, Q. (2021). Transport Infrastructure and House Prices in the Long Run. Transport Policy, 112, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2021.08.006.

Clifton, J., Díaz-Fuentes, D., & Revuelta, J. (2017). Has Latin American Inequality Changed Direction?: Looking over the long run. In L. Bértola & J. Williamson (Eds.), Fiscal Policy and Inequality in Latin America, 1960–2012 (pp. 387–406). Springer Nature-IDB. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44621-9.

Deyin, C., Yiduo, H., & Jinghua, Z. (2017). Chinese Decentralization and Income Inequality Between Urban and Rural Residents: An Empirical Study Based on The Dual Dimensions of Internal and External Budget. China Finance and Economic Review, 6(3), 62–87. https://doi.org/10.1515/cfer-2017-060305.

Enami, A., Lustig, N., & Taqdiri, A. (2019). Fiscal policy, Inequality, and Poverty in Iran: Assessing The Impact and Effectiveness of Taxes and Transfers. Middle East Development Journal, 11(1), 49–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/17938120.2019.1583510.

Fageda, X., & Olivieri, C. (2019). Transport Infrastructure and Regional Convergence: A Spatial Panel Data Approach. Papers in Regional Science, 98(4), 1609–1631. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/pirs.12433.

Fan, F., Li, M., Tao, R., & Yang, D. (2020). Transfer-Based Decentralisation, Economic Growth and Spatial Inequality: Evidence from China’s 2002–2003 Tax Sharing Reform. Urban Studies, 57(4), 806–826. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098019856780.

Feld, L. P., Frey, C., Schaltegger, C. A., & Schmid, L. A. (2021). Fiscal Federalism and Income Inequality: An Empirical Analysis for Switzerland. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 185, 463–494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2021.02.028.

Field, A. (2009). Discovering Statistics Using SPSS. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.

Fuguitt, G. V., Heaton, T. B., & Lichter, D. T. (1988). Monitoring The Metropolitanization Process. Demography, 25(1), 115–128. https://doi.org/10.2307/2061481.

Fullerton Jr, T. M., Morales, C. R., & Walke, A. G. (2014). The Effects of Education, Infrastructure, and Demographics on Regional Income Performance in Missouri. Regional and Sectoral Economic Studies, 12(1), 5–22. https://ideas.repec.org/a/eaa/eerese/v14y2014i1_1.html.

Goerl, C.-A., & Seiferling, M. (2014). Income Inequality, Fiscal Decentralization and Transfer Dependency. IMF Working Papers, 14(64), 1. https://doi.org/10.5089/9781484354711.001.

Greene, W. H. (2003). Econometric Analysis. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Hansen, C. B. (2007). Generalized Least Squares Inference in Panel and Multilevel Models with Serial Correlation and Fixed Effects. Journal of Econometrics, 140(2), 670–694. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeconom.2006.07.011.

Hausman, J. A. (1978). Specification Tests in Econometrics. Econometrica, 46(6), 1251–1271. https://doi.org/10.2307/1913827.

Heinrich Mora, E., Heine, C., Jackson, J. J., West, G. B., Yang, V. C., & Kempes, C. P. (2021). Scaling of Urban Income Inequality in the USA. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 18, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2021.0223.

Hsiao, C. (2007). Panel Data Analysis—Advantages and Challenges. TEST, 16(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11749-007-0046-x.

Huang, K., Yan, W., Sim, N., Guo, Y., & Xie, F. (2022). Can Trade Explain the Rising Trends in Income Inequality? Insights from 40 years of Empirical Studies. Economic Modelling, 107, 105725. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2021.105725.

Huang, Z., Xu, H., Li, J., & Luo, N. (2020). Has Highway Construction Narrowed the Urban–Rural Income Gap? Evidence from Chinese Cities. Papers in Regional Science, 99(3), 705–723. https://doi.org/10.1111/pirs.12504.

Imai, K. S., & Malaeb, B. (2018). Asia’s Rural-Urban Disparity in The Context of Growing Inequality (pp. 1–30). International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Irianti, S., & Prasetyoputra, P. (2021). Rural–Urban Disparities in Access to Improved Sanitation in Indonesia: A Decomposition Approach. SAGE Open, 11(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211029920.

Jain, S. C. (2012). Market Evolution in Developing Countries. In Kaynak, E., & Jain, S. C. (Eds). Market Evolution in Developing Countries. London: Routledge.

Jamal, H. (2019). Smoothing Sporadic Poverty and Inequality Estimates: Pakistan, 1985-2016. MPRA Paper No. 91834.

Johnson, K. M., & Lichter, D. T. (2020). Metropolitan Reclassification and the Urbanization of Rural America. Demography, 57(5), 1929–1950.

Kalwij, A., & Verschoor, A. (2007). Not by Growth Alone: The Role of the Distribution of Income in Regional Diversity in Poverty Reduction. European Economic Review, 51(4), 805–829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2006.06.003.

Kamaruddin, C. A., & Alam, S. (2019). Analisis Potensi Sektor Unggulan dan Pemetaan Kemiskinan Masyarakat di Wilayah Maminasata Sulawesi Selatan. Jurnal Administrare: Jurnal Pemikiran Ilmiah dan Pendidikan Administrasi Perkantoran, 5(2), 85-90. https://doi.org/10.26858/ja.v5i2.7886.

Khan, S., & Padda, I. U. haq. (2021). The Impact of Tax and Expenditures Policies on Income Distribution: Evidence from Pakistan. Etikonomi, 20(2), 369–384. https://doi.org/10.15408/etk.v20i2.18121.

Khusaini, K., Remi, S. S., Fahmi, M., & Purnagunawan, R. M. (2020). Measuring the Inequality in Education: Educational Kuznets Curve. Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia, 54(3), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.17576/JEM-2020-5403-05.

Kocsis, D., & Xiong, J. (2022). A Divide Quantified—Exploring The Relationship Between ICT Infrastructure Diffusion and Income Inequality. Journal of Electronic Business & Digital Economics, 1(1/2), 34–49. https://doi.org/10.1108/jebde-09-2022-0033.

Kuznet, S. (1955). Economic Growth and Income Inequality Simon Kuznets. The American Economic Review, 45(1), 1–28.

Kyriacou, A. P., Muinelo-Gallo, L., & Roca-Sagalés, O. (2017). Regional Inequalities, Fiscal Decentralization and Government Quality. Regional Studies, 51(6), 945–957. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2016.1150992.

Lazaridis, P. (2000). Decomposition of Food Expenditure Inequality: An Application of the Extended Gini Coefficient to Greek Micro-Data. Social Indicators Research, 52, 179–193. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007131116344.

Lin, C. H. A. (2007). Education Expansion, Educational Inequality, and Income Inequality: Evidence from Taiwan, 1976-2003. Social Indicators Research, 80(3), 601–615. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-006-0009-8.

Liu, H., & He, Q. (2019). The Effect of Basic Public Service on Urban-Rural Income Inequality: A Sys-GMM Approach. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istrazivanja, 32(1), 3205–3223. https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2019.1661005.

Liu, Y., & Long, C. (2021). Urban and Rural Income Gap: Does Urban Spatial Form Matter in China? SAGE Open, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211002215.

Liu, Y., Martinez-Vazquez, J., & Wu, A. M. (2017). Fiscal Decentralization, Equalization, and Intra-Provincial Inequality in China. International Tax and Public Finance, 24(2), 248–281. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10797-016-9416-1.

Lu, H., Zhao, P., Hu, H., Zeng, L., Wu, K. S., & Lv, D. (2022). Transport Infrastructure and Urban-Rural Income Disparity: A Municipal-Level Analysis in China. Journal of Transport Geography, 99, 103292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2022.103292.

Makmuri, A. (2017). Infrastructure and Inequality: An Empirical Evidence from Indonesia. Economic Journal of Emerging Markets, 9(1), 29–39. https://doi.org/10.20885/ejem.vol9.iss1.art4.

Makreshanska-Mladenovska, S., & Petrevski, G. (2019). Decentralisation and Income Inequality in Central and Eastern European Countries. Post-Communist Economies, 31(1), 123–136. https://doi.org/10.1080/14631377.2018.1461526.

Mardiasmo. (2006). Akuntansi Sektor Publik. Yogyakarta: Andi Publisher.

McGregor, T., Smith, B., & Wills, S. (2019). Measuring Inequality. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 35(3), 368–395. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxrep/grz015.

Mishra, A., & Agarwal, A. (2019). Do Infrastructure Development and Urbanisation Lead to Rural-Urban Income Inequality? Evidence from Some Asian Countries. International Journal of Sustainable Economy, 11(2), 167–183. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJSE.2019.099054.

Mudayen, Y. M. V., & Maridjo, H. (2017). The Impacts of Fiscal Decentralization, Institutional Transformation, and Regional Revenue on Income Disparities between Provinces in Indonesia. Journal of Economics, Business & Accountancy Ventura, 20(3), 247–259. https://doi.org/10.14414/jebav.v20i2.878.

Muinelo-Gallo, L., & Roca-Sagalés, O. (2013). Joint Determinants of Fiscal Policy, Income Inequality and Economic Growth. Economic Modelling, 30, 814–824. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2012.11.009.

Musau, V. M., Waititu, A. G., & Wanjoyo, A. K. (2015). Modeling Panel Data: Comparison of GLS Estimation and Robust Covariance Matrix Estimation. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 4(3), 185–191. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20150403.25.

Naguib, C. (2017). The Relationship between Inequality and Growth: Evidence from New Data. Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics, 153(3), 183–225. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03399507.

Nallathiga, R. (2015). Assessing the Infrastructure Level and Growth Performance of Indian States. Journal of Infrastructure Development, 7(1), 76–100. https://doi.org/10.1177/0974930615581225.

Naveed, T. A., Gordon, D., & Ullah, S. (2018). Measurement of Educational Disparities in Punjab (Pakistan): An Analysis from MICS’s Micro-data. The Pakistan Journal of Social Issues, IX, 26–49.

Nugraha, A. T., Prayitno, G., Situmorang, M. E., & Nasution, A. (2020). The Role of Infrastructure in Economic Growth and Income Inequality in Indonesia. Economics and Sociology, 13(1), 102–115. https://doi.org/10.14254/2071-789X.2020/13-1/7.

Odusola, A. (2019). Fiscal Policy, Redistribution and Inequality in Africa. In Odusola (Ed). Income Inequality Trends in sub-Saharan Africa: Divergence, Determinats, and Conequences, pp. 154–177. United Nations Development Programme.

Ogbeide, E. N. O., & Agu, D. O. (2015). Poverty and Income Inequality in Nigeria: Any Causality? Asian Economic and Financial Review, 5(3), 439–452. https://doi.org/10.18488/journal.aefr/2015.5.3/102.3.439.452.

Ong, K., Matthews, K., & Wang, B. (2023). Growth versus Equity: The Effects of Centralized Fiscal Transfers on Chinese Provinces. Regional Studies, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2022.2160868.

Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development. (2015). Growth and Income Inequality: Trends and Policy Implications. OECD Economics Department Policy Note, 26, 3–13.

Qomariyah, S. N., Harti, & Hariyati. (2019). Social Interaction, Socio-Economic Status, and Basic Economic Knowledge of Students’ Economic Behavior. Jurnal Pendidikan Ekonomi Dan Bisnis (JPEB), 7(2), 101–111. https://doi.org/10.21009/jpeb.007.2.1

Raharti, R., Laras, T., & Oktavianti, O. (2021). Model Ketimpangan Pembangunan Ekonomi di Indonesia. Jurnal Samudra Ekonomi Dan Bisnis, 12(2), 257–270. https://doi.org/10.33059/jseb.v12i2.2422.

Rodríguez-Pose, A., & Tselios, V. (2010). Inequalities in Income and Education and Regional Economic Growth in Western Europe. Annals of Regional Science, 44(2), 349–375. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00168-008-0267-2.

Saputra, B. (2012). Dampak Desentralisasi Fiskal Terhadap Korupsi di Indonesia. Borneo Administrator, 8(3), 251–260. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.24258/jba.v8i3.92.

Sen, A. K. (1997). From Income Inequality to Economic Inequality. Southern Economic Journal, 64(2), 384–401. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.2307/1060857.

Sepulveda, C. F., & Martinez-Vazquez, J. (2011). The Consequences of Fiscal Decentralization on Poverty and Income Equality. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 29, 321–343. https://doi.org/10.1068/c1033r.

Shukla, V., & Mishra, U. S. (2019). Educational Expansion and Schooling Inequality: Testing Educational Kuznets Curve for India. Social Indicators Research, 141(3), 1265–1283. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-018-1863-x.

Shukla, V., & Mishra, U. S. (2020). Expansion in Education and Its Impact on Income Inequality: Cross-sectional Evidence from India. Indian Journal of Labour Economics, 63(2), 331–362. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41027-020-00221-w.

Siddique, M. A. B., Wibowo, H., & Wu, Y. (2008). Economics Fiscal Decentralisation and Inequality in Indonesia : 1999-2008. Working Papers. The University of Western Australia.

Sidek, N. Z. M. (2021). Do Government Expenditure Reduce Income Inequality: Evidence from Developing and Developed Countries. Studies in Economics and Finance, 38(2), 447–503. https://doi.org/10.1108/SEF-09-2020-0393.

Stevans, L. K., & Sessions, D. N. (2005). The Relationship Between Poverty, Economic Growth, and Inequality Revisited. Retrieved from: https://ideas.repec.org/p/wpa/wuwpge/0502002.html.

Stossberg, S., & Blöchliger, H. (2017). Fiscal Decentralisation and Income Inequality: Empirical Evidence from OECD Countries. Jahrbucher Fur Nationalokonomie Und Statistik, 237(3), 225–273. https://doi.org/10.1515/jbnst-2017-1108.

Su, X., Lu, K., Hu, X., & Xiang, Y. (2019). Reforms on County-Level Fiscal Governance in China: Impact on Urban-Rural Income Inequality. International Review of Public Administration, 24(2), 81–100. https://doi.org/10.1080/12294659.2019.1608011.

Sukoco, S., Hartono, D., & Patunru, A. (2020). The Impacts of Liberalization and Trade Facilitation on Economic Performance, Poverty and Income Inequality: An Analytical Study. Economic Journal of Emerging Markets, 12(1), 67–79. https://doi.org/10.20885/ejem.vol12.iss1. art6.

Tadjoeddin, M. Z. (2013). Miracle That Never Was: Disaggregated Level of Inequality in Indonesia. International Journal of Development Issues, 12(1), 22–35. https://doi.org/10.1108/14468951311322091.

Taresh, A. A., Sari, D. W., & Purwono, R. (2021). Analysis of The Relationship Between Income Inequality and Social Variables: Evidence from Indonesia. Economics and Sociology, 14(1), 103–119. https://doi.org/10.14254/2071-789X.2021/14-1/7.

Tselios, V. (2014). The Granger-Causality Between Income and Educational Inequality: a Spatial Cross-Regressive VAR Framework. Annals of Regional Science, 53(1), 221–243. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00168-014-0626-0.

Yusuf, A. A. (2018). The Direct and Indirect Effect of Cash Transfers: The Case of Indonesia. International Journal of Social Economics, 45(5), 792–806. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-03-2017-0072.

Yusuf, A. A., Anglingkusumo, R., & Sumner, A. (2021). A Direct Test of Kuznets in a Developing Economy: a Cross-District Analysis of Structural Transformation and Inequality in Indonesia. Regional Studies, Regional Science, 8(1), 184–206. https://doi.org/10.1080/21681376.2021.1924850.

Yusuf, A. A., Sumner, A., & Rum, I. A. (2014). Twenty Years of Expenditure Inequality in Indonesia, 1993–2013. Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies, 50(2), 243–254. https://doi.org/10.1080/00074918.2014.939937.

Zhang, J., & Zhang, Y. (2021). The Relationship Between China’s Income Inequality and Transport Infrastructure, Economic Growth, and Carbon Emissions. Growth and Change, 52(1), 243–264. https://doi.org/10.1111/grow.12472.

Zolfaghari, M., Kabiri, M., & Saadatmanesh, H. (2020). Impact of Socio-Economic Infrastructure Investments on Income Inequality in Iran. Journal of Policy Modeling, 42(5), 1146–1168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpolmod.2020.02.004.

Zou, W., Zhang, F., Zhuang, Z., & Song, H. (2008). Transport Infrastructure, Growth, and Poverty Alleviation: Empirical Analysis of China. Annals of Economics and Finance, 9(2), 345–371.


Full Text: PDF

DOI: 10.15408/etk.v22i2.28618

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.




Copyright (c) 2023 Khusaini Khusaini, Bambang Mardisentosa, Tetuko Rawidyo Putro

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.