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Social Insurance and Wealth Distribution

Author

Listed:
  • Minchung Hsu

    (National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS))

Abstract

This paper aims to determine whether and, if so, how the existence of a means-tested, asset-based social insurance program and the potential reform thereof impacts wealth distribution in the United States. A dynamic equilibrium model that could generate several features of the current state of wealth distribution in the United States was developed to investigate to the extent to which social insurance programs affect wealth distribution in the United States. The results of several experiments and robustness tests performed using this model suggest that entirely eliminating the U.S. social insurance system would decrease the Gini coefficient from its current value of approximately 0.8 to less than 0.6. However, the results also indicate that reforming the social insurance system, whether by expanding or contracting it by 20%, would have no significant impact on wealth distribution.

Suggested Citation

  • Minchung Hsu, 2011. "Social Insurance and Wealth Distribution," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 31(1), pages 687-698.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-10-00547
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Luisa Fuster & Ayşe İmrohoroğlu & Selahattin İmrohoroğlu, 2007. "Elimination of Social Security in a Dynastic Framework," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 74(1), pages 113-145.
    2. Cagetti, Marco & De Nardi, Mariacristina, 2008. "Wealth Inequality: Data And Models," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 12(S2), pages 285-313, September.
    3. Hansen, Gary D & Imrohoroglu, Ayse, 1992. "The Role of Unemployment Insurance in an Economy with Liquidity Constraints and Moral Hazard," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 100(1), pages 118-142, February.
    4. Jeske, Karsten & Kitao, Sagiri, 2009. "U.S. tax policy and health insurance demand: Can a regressive policy improve welfare?," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 56(2), pages 210-221, March.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    means-tested social insurance; wealth distribution;

    JEL classification:

    • E6 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook
    • D3 - Microeconomics - - Distribution

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