Spatial Income Gap and Structure in Egypt: The Urban–Rural and Cairo–Provincial Divides Reconsidered

Abstract

This paper aims at examining the urban (Cairo)–rural (provincial) dichotomy in Egypt, by analyzing the income gap and income structure. Its results confirm the Cairo–provincial relation as the central axis in Egyptian society. However, contrary to conventional wisdom, this Cairo-provincial relation is characterized by asset inequality, and not by the disparity between the agricultural and urban industrial sectors.