A multi-scale approach to the study of spatial inequality of population income in Brazil

Abstract

The aim of the research is to identify the key features of spatial inequality of income distribution in Brazil and its representation on different spatial scales: on the regional, state or municipal level, as well as special statistical grids (mesoregions and microregions). The economic development of Brazil in the beginning of the XXI century is characterized by reducing of the level of income inequality, as well as a certain decrease of the level of spatial inequality between the southern and northeastern regions. The common rule is that the heterogeneity of income distribution gradually increases from top to the lower levels of spatial division. The analysis of inequality measures has proven that despite of the general decrease of regional inequality in 2000–2010, the lower levels of territorial division have shown the lowest progress in reducing regional inequality. The paper also proposes the ways to illustrate spatial inequality when applying polyscale method, based on mapping the variation of average population income in Brazil on different scale levels.