World income distribution and mobility

In this paper, we show that over the period 1970-2007, the world income distribution expressed in terms of GDP per capita invariably scales down as an exponential law. To visualize dynamical characteristics behind this macro-stability, we use a clock form to present the GDP per capita and rank of the 163 countries over 38 years. Correspondingly, the average variations over time are quantified by absolute and relative mobility indexes. Furthermore, a growth mobility index concerning the share of each country is proposed and its decomposition is also presented in the clock form.