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Inequality-Driven Growth: Unveiling Aggregation Effects in Growth Equations

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  • Pedro H. Albuquerque

Abstract

This paper presents a simple Cass-Koopmans-Ramsey AK growth model with heterogeneity that explains how policies that increase income inequality may temporarily boost a country’s income growth rate. Briefly put, a change in policy that reduces redistributive transfers will free up resources to the households with the highest productivities, resulting in an aggregate growth rate increase that will endure until new limits to differentiated accumulation are found. The unambiguous effect takes place in poor and rich countries alike, arising from productivity heterogeneity and redistribution (although it could also arise from other sources of heterogeneity). The effect is explicitly captured in the aggregate growth equation by the changes of the mean logarithmic deviation (MLD or Theil’s second measure) of the income. The model supports the empirical results found in Forbes (AER, 2000). The accelerated growth episodes observed in Brazil from 1968 to 1973 and in China recently are shown to be empirically consistent with the model. If the model predictions are correct, Chinese growth rates may eventually fall, following a pattern that, even if not presenting the same magnitude, could resemble the one observed during the Brazilian slowdown

Suggested Citation

  • Pedro H. Albuquerque, 2004. "Inequality-Driven Growth: Unveiling Aggregation Effects in Growth Equations," Econometric Society 2004 Latin American Meetings 7, Econometric Society.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecm:latm04:7
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    Cited by:

    1. Niko Gobbin & Glenn Rayp & Dirk Van de gaer, 2007. "Inequality And Growth: From Micro Theory To Macro Empirics," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 54(4), pages 508-530, September.
    2. Cesaroni, T. & D'Elia, E. & De Santis, R., 2019. "Inequality in EMU: is there a core periphery dualism?," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 20(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Inequality; Growth; Income Distribution; Redistribution; Heterogeneity; AK Model; Brazil; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models
    • O50 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - General

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