所得格差、１７年も高止まり＝前回よりわずかに改善－厚労省

　厚生労働省は６日、所得格差を表す代表的な指標「ジニ係数」の２０１７年調査結果を公表した。年金など社会保障給付を含まない当初所得（世帯単位）は０．５５９４。過去最大だった１４年の前回調査より０．０１１ポイント改善したが、依然高水準にとどまっている。
　ジニ係数は、０～１の間の数値で示され、格差が大きいほど１に近づく。調査は１９６２年以降、おおむね３年ごとに実施。今回は１７年７～８月に８６４５世帯を対象に行い、回収率は５１．１％。
　当初所得から税金や社会保険料を差し引き、年金などの社会保障サービス分を加えた「再配分」後のジニ係数は０．３７２１。前回より０．００３８ポイント改善した。再配分による改善度は３３．５％。前回より０．６ポイント低下したが、厚労省は「再配分機能に一定の効果がある結果となった」としている。（2019/09/06-14:46）

The income gap between Japanese households remained wide in 2017 after reaching the highest level on record in the previous survey in 2014, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said Friday.
   The gap in initial income per household, as measured by the Gini coefficient, a key yardstick of income inequality, stood at 0.5594 in 2017, down 0.011 point from 2014. Initial income does not include public pension and other social security benefits.
   The number is expressed between zero and one, with a number closer to one meaning a wider gap. The survey has been conducted roughly every three years since 1962.
   The latest survey was held between July and August 2017, covering 8,645 households. Valid responses were received from 51.1 pct.
   The gap shrank 0.0038 point to 0.3721 after redistribution, or after tax and social insurance premiums are subtracted from initial income and social security benefits are added.