Dependência e desigualdade global no século XXI

This article analyzes the structural determinants of global inequality in the 21st century from a critical perspective grounded in dependency theory. Using a panel data model covering 51 countries from 2000 to 2019, we assess the impact of countries’ centrality in global production networks, the technological complexity of exports, the internal productive structure, and the level of foreign ownership on four key indicators of inequality: the Gini coefficient, labor income share, average household income, and GDP per capita. The results show that subordinate integration into global value chains and high levels of foreign control over productive assets are associated with greater inequality and lower economic well-being. In contrast, countries with more complex production structures and more central positions in global trade networks tend to exhibit more equitable income distribution and higher development levels. These findings reaffirm the relevance of dependency theory as an analytical framework to understand contemporary global inequalities in the capitalist world economy.