The impact of Covid-19 on economic inequality in Australia

Hang Young Lee

The impact of Covid-19 on economic inequality in Australia

School of Communication, Society and Culture

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference abstract

Abstract

While economic shocks are known to affect inequality, their impact in Australia is under-researched. This study uses Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey data (2001-2022) to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic altered income and wealth distribution in Australia. It finds that income inequality worsened, while wealth inequality improved during the pandemic period. The study further explores the drivers of these divergent trends by analysing income and wealth sources, distributional sub-classes, and intergenerational inequality patterns. The results suggest that policy interventions during the pandemic had differing effects on income and wealth inequality, underscoring the importance of considering both dimensions in future crisis responses.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	TASA 2025: Sociology in Action!
Subtitle of host publication	wellbeing, policy, and activism in times of crises and change
Publisher	The Australian Sociological Association (TASA)
Number of pages	1
Publication status	Published - Nov 2025
Event	The Australian Sociological Association Annual Conference (2025): Sociology in Action! Wellbeing, Policy, and Activism in Times of Crises and Change - University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia Duration: 24 Nov 2025 → 27 Nov 2025

Conference

Conference	The Australian Sociological Association Annual Conference (2025)
Abbreviated title	TASA 2025
Country/Territory	Australia
City	Melbourne
Period	24/11/25 → 27/11/25

Access to Document

https://virtual.oxfordabstracts.com/event/74508/submission/317

Cite this

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title = "The impact of Covid-19 on economic inequality in Australia",

abstract = "While economic shocks are known to affect inequality, their impact in Australia is under-researched. This study uses Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey data (2001-2022) to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic altered income and wealth distribution in Australia. It finds that income inequality worsened, while wealth inequality improved during the pandemic period. The study further explores the drivers of these divergent trends by analysing income and wealth sources, distributional sub-classes, and intergenerational inequality patterns. The results suggest that policy interventions during the pandemic had differing effects on income and wealth inequality, underscoring the importance of considering both dimensions in future crisis responses.",

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year = "2025",

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booktitle = "TASA 2025: Sociology in Action!",

publisher = "The Australian Sociological Association (TASA)",

note = "The Australian Sociological Association Annual Conference (2025) : Sociology in Action! Wellbeing, Policy, and Activism in Times of Crises and Change, TASA 2025 ; Conference date: 24-11-2025 Through 27-11-2025",

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Lee, HY 2025, The impact of Covid-19 on economic inequality in Australia. in TASA 2025: Sociology in Action!: wellbeing, policy, and activism in times of crises and change. The Australian Sociological Association (TASA), The Australian Sociological Association Annual Conference (2025), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 24/11/25. <https://virtual.oxfordabstracts.com/event/74508/submission/317>

TY - CHAP

T1 - The impact of Covid-19 on economic inequality in Australia

AU - Lee, Hang Young

PY - 2025/11

Y1 - 2025/11

N2 - While economic shocks are known to affect inequality, their impact in Australia is under-researched. This study uses Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey data (2001-2022) to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic altered income and wealth distribution in Australia. It finds that income inequality worsened, while wealth inequality improved during the pandemic period. The study further explores the drivers of these divergent trends by analysing income and wealth sources, distributional sub-classes, and intergenerational inequality patterns. The results suggest that policy interventions during the pandemic had differing effects on income and wealth inequality, underscoring the importance of considering both dimensions in future crisis responses.

AB - While economic shocks are known to affect inequality, their impact in Australia is under-researched. This study uses Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey data (2001-2022) to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic altered income and wealth distribution in Australia. It finds that income inequality worsened, while wealth inequality improved during the pandemic period. The study further explores the drivers of these divergent trends by analysing income and wealth sources, distributional sub-classes, and intergenerational inequality patterns. The results suggest that policy interventions during the pandemic had differing effects on income and wealth inequality, underscoring the importance of considering both dimensions in future crisis responses.

M3 - Conference abstract

BT - TASA 2025: Sociology in Action!

PB - The Australian Sociological Association (TASA)

T2 - The Australian Sociological Association Annual Conference (2025)

Y2 - 24 November 2025 through 27 November 2025

ER -

The impact of Covid-19 on economic inequality in Australia

Abstract

Conference

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