How do human rights violations affect poverty and income distribution?

Abstract

Employing data for 125 countries and spanning the 1990–2014 period, we empirically examine the impact of human rights on income distribution and poverty. We also investigate how aid and trade can influence poverty and income distribution through human rights. The results suggest that stronger human rights records contribute to greater income equality, as well as to poverty reduction. The interaction of human rights with both ODA and trade show that as aid and trade flows increase, or alternatively as human rights records increase, ODA and trade flows reduce poverty and lead to greater equality in income distribution.