Dynamics of Social Welfare, Disparity, and Distributive Equity

Abstract

Abstract

This study provides a global synthesis of scientific production examining the structural intersections between social welfare, economic inequality, and distributive justice. Analyzing a corpus of 1,704 peer-reviewed articles indexed in the Scopus database from 1979 to 2026, we track the intellectual trajectory, macro-structural metrics, and thematic consolidation of this multidisciplinary domain. The literature exhibits strong growth at an annual rate of 12.46%, driven by extensive international co-authorship networks anchored primarily in Anglo-American institutions and rapidly expanding Asian research centers. Theoretical paradigms have evolved from early operational models of resource allocation toward sophisticated, multi-dimensional frameworks integrating empirical health equity, quality of life indicators, and computational modeling. This synthesis clarifies the structural evolution of welfare economics and offers key policy insights into sustainable social governance.

Keywords:  Social welfare, Economic inequality, Distributive justice, Equity, Quality of life, Public policy