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Structural reforms and income distribution

Author

Listed:
  • Orsetta Causa

    (OECD)

  • Alain de Serres

    (OECD)

  • Nicolas Ruiz

    (OECD)

Abstract

This paper provides new empirical evidence on the effects of structural policies on household disposable incomes at different income levels. More specifically, it investigates the extent to which structural policies have differential long-run impacts on GDP per capita and on household incomes at different points of the distribution. One aim is to verify whether policy decisions may face tradeoffs between objectives of economic efficiency and equity. Many growth enhancing structural reforms are found to deliver stronger income gains for households at the lower end of the distribution compared with the average household, an indication that they may reduce inequality in disposable incomes. Such is the case of reducing regulatory barriers to domestic competition as well as to trade and FDI; stepping-up job-search support and activation programmes. Conversely, other reforms involve trade-offs between the efficiency and equity objective. This is the case of the tightening of unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed, which is found to lift GDP per capita and average household incomes, but also to reduce disposable incomes at the lower end of the distribution. Réformes structurelles et la distribution des revenus Cette étude presente des nouveaux résultats d’analyse empirique sur les effets des politiques structurelles sur le revenue dispoanible des ménages à differents niveaux de revenu. De manière plus spécifique, elle examine la mesure dans laquelle les politiques strucuturelles ont des impacts differents à long terme sur le PIB par habitant et le revenu des ménages, à différents points de la distribution. Un objectif consiste à vérifier si les choix de politiques impliquent des arbitrages entre les objectifs d’efficacité économique et ceux d’équité. Les résultats indiquent que plusieurs politiques favorables à la croissance entraînent des gains plus élevés pour les ménages qui se trouvent dans le bas de la distribution que pour les ménages situé autour de la moyenne, conduisant ainsi à une baisse des inégalités de revenus disponibles. C’est le cas notamment des mesures visant à réduire les barrières réglementaires à la concurrence domestique ainsi qu’au commerce extérieur et aux investissement étranger, de même que pour celles conduisant à un renforcement de l’aide à la recherche active d’emploi pour les chômeurs. À l’inverse, un resserement des indemnités chômage ciblé sur les chômeurs de longue durée réduit le revenue des ménages les plus modestes tandis qu’il entraîne une hausse du PIB par habitant et du revenu des ménages autour de la moyenne.

Suggested Citation

  • Orsetta Causa & Alain de Serres & Nicolas Ruiz, 2015. "Structural reforms and income distribution," OECD Economic Policy Papers 13, OECD Publishing.
    • Handle: RePEc:oec:ecoaab:13-en
    DOI: 10.1787/5js3777lbxzn-en
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    2. Martínez, Enrique A., 2018. "Aportes de la biología a la reflexión sobre modelos económicos alternativos: más allá de las metáforas," Estudios Nueva Economía, Estudios Nueva Economía, vol. 5(1), pages 55-69.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    cross-country analysis; distribution des revenus; income distribution; inequality; inégalité; réforme structurelle; structural reforms;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • I13 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Insurance, Public and Private
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy
    • J3 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs
    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy
    • J6 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers

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