Causes, and effects of Women Households Income Inequality in Ambo Town, West Shewa Zone, Oromia Regional State Ethiopia

Abstract

In the world, especially, in developing countries there is income inequality problem. So this income inequality between individuals raises problems in economic, social and cultural, which create differences on the standards of living among individuals. This study focused on causes and effects of women’s household income inequality in Ambo town, West Shewa zone Oromia regional state. The general objective of the study is to identify the causes and effects of income inequality in Ambo town. For achieving the objective of the study, primary and secondary data were used. Questionnaires are the major source of primary data that are important to collect the available evidence or data. Interviews also used in this study. Due to insufficiency of resources like time, budget and other limitation to observe the entire population the sampling were used and the sampling technique of the study is simple random sampling technique. To collect the data the study has selected 154 respondents from three kebeles to get crucial information about income inequalities in the study area. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive data analysis technique. The result of the study indicated that there are various factors that affect women household income inequality. Those factors include difference in education level, social factors, economic factors, cultural, political factors, personal factor, Unemployment, less social acceptability and confidence. The study also reveals that the effects of women household’s income inequalities were financial crisis, conflicts, Political instability; disparities in living standard and poverty are from the major ones. Lastly, the study recommended that, providing different job opportunities mainly for the vulnerable groups specially to minimize the income gap between women household heads was taken as the policy solutions in order to minimize income inequality problem between women household in particular and the area’s population in general is required from the policy providers.