10. Income inequality in Bulgaria after the accession to the European Union

Disparities in income distribution are one of the most discussed topics in the economic literature. The main question in the study is whether macroeconomic stability in recent years in Bulgaria is a prerequisite for raising incomes in all groups of the population or rather those in the upper-income quantiles have managed to benefit more from those in its lower end. The aim of the survey is based on the analysis of the income inequality in Bulgaria after the EU accession to formulate conclusions and recommendations for overcoming the existing imbalances in society.

Different indicators have been used to measure income inequality – Gini coefficient, Atkinson, Theil and Hoover indexes, which give a complete picture of inequality in different aspects. In the paper are applied two of the most widely used coefficients in the EU – the Gini coefficient and coefficient S20/80. The survey indicates an increasing inequality in income distribution in Bulgaria. The dynamics of the coefficients in the country shows higher growth compared to the average level in the EU-27. It is necessary for some serious measures to be taken for achieving more effective income distribution and overcoming this serious problem in Bulgaria.