Voting, Inequality, and Redistribution

Rainald Borck

No 503, Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin from DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research

Abstract: This paper surveys models of voting on redistribution. Under reasonable assumptions, the baseline model produces an equilibrium with the extent of redistributive taxation chosen by the median income earner; if the median is poorer than average, redistribution is from rich to poor. Increasing inequality increases redistribution. However, under different assumptions about the economic environment, redistribution may not be simply rich to poor, and inequality need not increase redistribution. Several lines of argument are presented, in particular, political participation, public provision of private goods, public pensions, and tax avoidance or evasion.

Keywords: Inequality; Redistribution; Voting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D72 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 25 p.
Date: 2005
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Journal Article: VOTING, INEQUALITY AND REDISTRIBUTION (2007)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:diw:diwwpp:dp503

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