Economic Development as Opportunity Equalization

John Roemer

No 1583, Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers from Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University

Abstract: The justification of using GNP per capita as a measure of economic development is utilitarian ethics plus an assumption that no needs are more urgent than others. Here, we advocate a measure of economic development based on the degree to which the society in question has equalized opportunities for the acquisition of income. In highly developed economies, inequality of opportunity accounts for less than 10% of total inequality, while in developing economies, it accounts for over 30%.

Keywords: Equality of opportunity; Economic development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D63 O16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 25 pages
Date: 2006-09
Note: CFP 1397
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

Published in The World Bank Economic Review, Advance Access published August 8, 2013

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Related works:
Journal Article: Economic Development as Opportunity Equalization (2014)
Working Paper: Economic development as opportunity equalization (2013)
Working Paper: Economic Development as Opportunity Equalization (2006)
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