Sources of Statistical Information

Sources of Statistical Information

Overview

Research is the process of asking questions and finding the answers by the application of scientific and systematic procedures. A type of research, communication research, is any qualitative or quantitative research conducted about the communication phenomenon. The main emphasis is on finding the patterns of communication behaviors which are then used by the scholars to establish important communication theories that can be generalized. It is an analysis of secondary data to further validate the particular matter.

Introduction

The two closely observed indicators of economic well being in Canada are trends in low income levels and income inequality (Sharpe, 2012). After stable income levels in the 1980's, there has been a change in the family income inequality. The increase has been at the same time when there has been a reduction in the social welfare state programs. The Canadian state has also seen a rise in tax rates as well since 1990's. The increase in income inequality shows the weakness in the redistributive system of Canadian economy. Many studies have found that low income levels among the Canadian residents are transitory among certain age groups.

The just and equal distribution of wealth can have a profound effect on the health status of a society. The rising income inequality has been associated with the deteriorating health status. The research attempts to study the factors and trends in the income inequality over the decade. It investigates the trend in income levels of the country.

Research question

Is family income inequality declining in Canada after period of instability from 1979 to 2004?

Discussion

The publications that I have used for the study include Rising Income Inequality in the 1990s: An Exploration of Three data Sources, Income Inequality and Low Income in Canada: An International Perspective and Income Inequality and Redistribution in Canada: 1976 to 2004. All the publications attempt to investigate the income trend in income inequality in Canada over the years. Most of the study revolves around the period of 1990s when the change in the economic policies brought about a change in the income status of the Canadian households. The two dominant factors that brought about that change were tax and transfer system which undergone significant change.

The focus of the studies was in the total market income and not just earnings. The focus was on the household income rather than just the individual income. The study concluded that low income is persistent in some particular groups, the reason of which is high unemployment rates in these groups. The study found that while they accounted for only 26% of the overall population, they made up the 62% of the low income group over a period of 1996-2000. These groups were single parents, uncommitted persons from age 45 to 64, current immigrants and persons with disabilities. The most persistent of the lot were disabled persons who found it hard to obtain employment. The study also analyses the impact of earning inequality on standard of living of recent immigrants asserting that the ...