Economic inequality of the PRC as an imperative for the formation of social stratification of the population

Abstract

The research established that economic inequality is a multidimensional phenomenon that encompasses disparities in income, wealth, and opportunities among individuals, groups, and regions. It reflects not only differences in earnings but also unequal access to education, healthcare, and employment, shaping social mobility and living standards. The study presents a typology of economic inequality, including income, wealth, opportunity, regional, global, intergenerational, and gender or social group disparities. Key economic theories analysed – classical, Marxian, neoclassical, Keynesian, institutional, and contemporary approaches that explain the origins and persistence of inequality. The analysis demonstrated that stratification can be explained through both economic dimensions (relations of production, labor markets, ownership) and socio-cultural ones (status, prestige, cultural and social capital). Measurement tools such as the Gini coefficient, Theil index, Atkinson index, and others are examined as essential instruments for empirical research. The study showed that effective policies to address inequality require a comprehensive approach that takes into account both economic and socio-institutional factors.