Identity and redistribution

Erik Lindqvist and Robert Östling

Public Choice, 2013, vol. 155, issue 3, 469-491

Abstract: This paper models the interaction between individuals’ identity choices and redistribution. Both redistributive policies and identity choices are endogenous, and there might be multiple equilibria. The model is applied to ethnicity and social class. In an equilibrium with high taxes, the poor identify as poor and favor high taxes. In an equilibrium with low taxes, at least some of the poor identify with their ethnic group and favor low taxes. The model predicts that redistribution is highest when society is ethnically homogeneous, but the effect of ethnic diversity on redistribution is not necessarily monotonic. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2013

Keywords: Redistribution; Social identity; Income inequality; Ethnic fractionalization; Ethnic diversity; Social class (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (35)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Identity and Redistribution (2009)
Working Paper: Identity and Redistribution (2008)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:kap:pubcho:v:155:y:2013:i:3:p:469-491

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DOI: 10.1007/s11127-011-9877-9

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