Wachstumsfolgen von Einkommensungleichheit – Theorie, empirische Evidenz und Politikempfehlungen

Jochen Hartwig

No 20, Chemnitz Economic Papers from Department of Economics, Chemnitz University of Technology

Abstract: Income inequality is “the defining challenge of our time”, former US President Barack Obama said in a speech in December 2013. Undoubtedly, the financial crisis and the sluggish recovery in its aftermath have increased the attention to rising inequality. This survey addresses the consequences of income inequality for economic growth from a theoretical and from an empirical angle. Both perspectives yield inconclusive results on whether inequality is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ for growth. This poses a problem for policymakers contemplating (e.g. tax) policies aimed at raising or lowering inequality. On the other hand, policies to promote social justice arguably do not need to pass a ‘do they increase economic growth?’ test. Some policy proposals which would reduce inequality are discussed as well.

Keywords: Income distribution; economic growth; economic policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E25 E61 E62 E64 O49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 42 pages
Date: 2018-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-mac
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Published in Chemnitz Economic Papers, Mars 2018, pages 1-30

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