Is Rentier Capitalism That Bad? Rent, Efficiency and Inequality Dynamics

Mohamed Mabrouk ()

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: The current economic context shows a tendency to inequality and rather weak growth. Rent-seeking behavior is often blamed for that. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the consequences, on the accumulation trajectory, of the existence of a rent levied by the rich on the poor. The model is inspired by the articles Stiglitz 1969, Schilcht 1975 and Bourguignon 1981. In particular, convex saving is used. We seek to see to what extent the introduction of a rent may call into question the Pareto-superiority of inequality proved by Bourguignon 1981 or alter the risk of decline highlighted in Mabrouk 2016. Within the limits of the assumptions of the model and of the numerical simulations carried out, we arrive at interesting and rather unexpected observations. Namely, a moderate rent levied by the rich on the poor may not only allow a Pareto-improvement of the economy and prevent the risk of decline, but also, it may unlock the economy from under-accumulation trap even if initial capital endowment is insufficient. The disadvantages of such a rent for the poor are felt only if the economy approaches or exceeds the golden rule where the net marginal productivity of capital is zero.

Keywords: Rent; Inequality; Efficiency; Accumulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D31 E13 E21 E25 O4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017-09-24
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cmp and nep-mac
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https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/81656/8/MPRA_paper_81656.pdf revised version (application/pdf)
https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/81748/15/MPRA_paper_81748.pdf revised version (application/pdf)

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