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The Tradeoff Between Inequality and Growth

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  • Jess Benhabib

    (Department of Economics, New York University)

Abstract

Is there a trade-off between inequality and economic growth? The theory and the evidence are so far inconclusive. So far the theory and the evidence are inconclusive. We want to construct a political economy model of growth to demonstrate that excessive inequality can disrupt the economy by inviting political interference through rent-seeking behavior and appropriation, but that policies supporting some modest inequality to take advantage of productivity differences can lead to the best growth rates. Thus we show that the relation between inequality and growth may be mildly hump-shaped: growth may rise modestly at first, as we move away from complete equality, and then drop again as inequality increases further.

Suggested Citation

  • Jess Benhabib, 2003. "The Tradeoff Between Inequality and Growth," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 4(2), pages 491-507, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:cuf:journl:y:2003:v:4:i:2:p:491-507
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Hailemariam Abebe & Dzhumashev Ratbek, 2020. "Income Inequality and Economic Growth: Heterogeneity and Nonlinearity," Studies in Nonlinear Dynamics & Econometrics, De Gruyter, vol. 24(3), pages 1-15, June.
    2. Ignacio Amate-Fortes & Almudena Guarnido-Rueda & Agustin Molina-Morales, 2017. "Economic and Social Determinants of Human Development: A New Perspective," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 133(2), pages 561-577, September.
    3. Linda Kadriji, 2024. "The Nexus Between Inequality and Economic Growth in European Transition Countries," Bulgarian Economic Papers bep-2024-04, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski - Bulgaria // Center for Economic Theories and Policies at Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski, revised Aug 2024.
    4. Davis, Lewis S., 2018. "Political economy of growth with a taste for status," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 35-46.
    5. Costanza Naguib, 2015. "The Relationship between Inequality and GDP Growth: an Empirical Approach," LIS Working papers 631, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    6. Ayal Kimhi, 2010. "Entrepreneurship and income inequality in southern Ethiopia," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 34(1), pages 81-91, January.
    7. Andrew Berg & Jonathan D. Ostry & Charalambos G. Tsangarides & Yorbol Yakhshilikov, 2018. "Redistribution, inequality, and growth: new evidence," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 259-305, September.
    8. Jochimsen, Beate & Wanyagathi Maina, Anne, 2019. "Consumption taxes, income distribution and poverty: Evidence from Kenya," FiFo Discussion Papers - Finanzwissenschaftliche Diskussionsbeiträge 19-06, University of Cologne, FiFo Institute for Public Economics.
    9. Karen Tumanyants & Sergey Arzhenovskiy & Olga Arkova & Maksim Monastyryov & Irina Pichulina, 2023. "Inequality and Economic Growth in Russia: Econometric Analysis," Russian Journal of Money and Finance, Bank of Russia, vol. 82(2), pages 52-77, June.
    10. Giuseppe Vita & Livio Ferrante, 2021. "Is legislation grease or sand to economic growth? An econometric analysis using data from Italian regions before and after the 2008 crisis," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 51(3), pages 541-561, June.
    11. Temilola Osinubi, Tolulope, 2020. "The Role Of Income Inequality In The Globalisation-Poverty Nexus: Empirical Evidence From Mint Countries," Ilorin Journal of Economic Policy, Department of Economics, University of Ilorin, vol. 7(2), pages 67-89, June.
    12. Junli Cheng & Feng Lin, 2022. "The Dynamic Effects of Urban–Rural Income Inequality on Sustainable Economic Growth under Urbanization and Monetary Policy in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-23, June.
    13. Devdatta Ray & Mikael Linden, 2018. "Health, inequality and income: a global study using simultaneous model," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 7(1), pages 1-28, December.
    14. Carrera, Jorge & de la Vega, Pablo, 2021. "The impact of income inequality on public debt," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 24(C).
    15. Tony Ward, 2017. "Inequality and Growth: Reviewing the Economic and Social Impacts," Australian Economic Review, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, vol. 50(1), pages 32-51, March.
    16. Laura Policardo & Lionello F. Punzo & Edgar J. Sanchez Carrera, 2016. "Unsustainable Inequality: is there a turning point?," Department of Economics University of Siena 728, Department of Economics, University of Siena.
    17. Wang, Chan, 2012. "A very preliminary survey on growth and development," MPRA Paper 39037, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    18. Marques, André M., 2022. "Is income inequality good or bad for growth? Further empirical evidence using data for all Brazilian cities," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 360-376.
    19. Heather Boushey & Christian E. Weller, 2006. "Inequality and Household Economic Hardship in the United States of America," Working Papers 18, United Nations, Department of Economics and Social Affairs.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Politics; Inequality; Growth; Conflict; Distribution;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • C73 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Stochastic and Dynamic Games; Evolutionary Games

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