The Survival of the Welfare State

John Hassler (), Sevi Rodríguez Mora (), Kjetil Storesletten () and Fabrizio Zilibotti ()

No 2905, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: This Paper provides an analytical characterization of Markov perfect equilibria in a model with repeated majority voting, where agents vote over income redistribution. The key feature of the theory is that the future constituency of redistributive policies depends positively on the current level of redistribution, since this affects both private investments and the future distribution of voters. Agents vote rationally, and fully anticipate the effects of their political choice on both private incentives and future voting outcomes. The equilibrium features multiple steady-states, one with and one without a welfare state. The theory can explain why welfare state institutions, originally introduced in response to specific shocks (e.g., the Great Depression), have been so persistent.

Keywords: education; markov equilibrium; multiple equilibria; policy-behaviour complementarity; redistribution; repeated voting; wage inequality; welfare state (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D72 E62 H11 H31 P16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2001-08
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Working Paper: The Survival of the Welfare State (2002)
Working Paper: The Survival of the Welfare State (2001)
Journal Article: The Survival of the Welfare State (2003)
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