Dr. Andreas Sintos, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Economics and Management at the University of Luxembourg, together with Michael Chletsos, Full Professor of Economics, and Konstantinos Kontos, PhD candidate in Economics, both from the University of Piraeus, Greece, have published an article titled “The political process in nations: Civil society participation and income inequality,” in KYKLOS, the International Review for Social Sciences.
In this study, the researchers explore the influence of civil society participation on income inequality, a topic that has received limited scholarly attention, and offer valuable insights into the mechanisms that can drive more inclusive economic growth.
Civil society participation refers to the activities of citizens who organize into various groups, known as civil society organizations, to pursue common interests and goals. These organizations span a wide range, including interest groups, labor unions, spiritual bodies engaging in civic or political activities, social movements, professional associations, charities, and other nongovernmental entities.
Their research, drawing on data from 1975 to 2019, examines the impact of civil society participation on income inequality across nations. The key findings of the research by Sintos and his coauthors indicate that higher levels of civil society engagement lead to a reduction in income inequality, both in the short and long term. In this article, the authors provide empirical evidence on the direct effects of civil society engagement on economic disparities. As a result, it highlights the importance of organized civil society in promoting more equitable economic outcomes.
The research findings stand out for their potential to inform policy and shape future policy initiatives, suggesting that policymakers should consider fostering civil society participation as a viable strategy to combat income inequality and thus create a fairer and more inclusive economic landscape.
The full article is available in open access in KYKLOS.