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Wealth inequality and financial inclusion: Evidence from South African tax and survey records

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  • von Fintel, Dieter
  • Orthofer, Anna

Abstract

Theoretical models show that financial inclusion reduces wealth inequality. Existing empirical models are restricted to estimates using income inequality because of a lack of cross country wealth inequality data. We used 2010-11 and 2014-5 waves of the National Income Dynamics Study combined with South African tax records to estimate wealth and income inequality. Using Re-centered Influence Function regressions on the micro-level records, we confirmed the negative cross-country relationship between financial inclusion and income inequality. Wealth inequality is different. Financial inclusion improved wealth shares of only the middle class. Because of predatory lending, expansion of credit reduced the wealth share of the poor. Improved savings by the middle class, providing better oversight over financial services targeted at the poor and removing impediments to the small business sector are pre-conditions for financial inclusion to reduce wealth inequality.

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  • von Fintel, Dieter & Orthofer, Anna, 2020. "Wealth inequality and financial inclusion: Evidence from South African tax and survey records," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 568-578.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:91:y:2020:i:c:p:568-578
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2020.02.001
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    2. Hu, Yue & Liu, Chang & Peng, Jiangang, 2021. "Financial inclusion and agricultural total factor productivity growth in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 68-82.
    3. Asongu, Simplice & Vo, Xuan, 2020. "The Effect of Finance on Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa: Avoidable CO2 emissions Thresholds," MPRA Paper 103233, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Ruibo Jiang & Wenjing Fan, 2022. "Inclusive finance and employment: Can financial development improve peasant's entrepreneurship?," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(3), pages 630-646, April.
    5. Zhang, Cheng & Zhu, Yuyao & Zhang, Limin, 2024. "Effect of digital inclusive finance on common prosperity and the underlying mechanisms," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    6. Siddiki, Jalal & Bala-Keffi, Ladi R., 2024. "Revisiting the relation between financial inclusion and economic growth: a global analysis using panel threshold regression," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    7. Marlin Jason Fortuin & Gerhard Philip Maree Grebe & Patricia Lindelwa Makoni, 2022. "Wealth Inequality in South Africa—The Role of Government Policy," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-11, May.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Saving; Income and wealth distribution; Financial inclusion; Re-centered influence functions; Tax records; Pareto imputation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance

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