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Wealth inequality under “keeping up with the Joneses” preferences

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  • Campanale, Claudio

Abstract

In the present paper I introduce “keeping up with the Joneses preferences” in an otherwise standard heterogeneous agent economy. The model simulations show that this kind of preferences can generate a substantial increase in wealth inequality compared to an equal model with standard expected utility.

Suggested Citation

  • Campanale, Claudio, 2016. "Wealth inequality under “keeping up with the Joneses” preferences," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 282-285.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:145:y:2016:i:c:p:282-285
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2016.06.035
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thorstein Veblen, 1899. "Mr. Cummings's Strictures on "The Theory of the Leisure Class"," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 8(1), pages 106-106.
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    6. Frank, Robert H. & Levine, Adam Seth & Dijk, Oege, 2014. "Expenditure Cascades," Review of Behavioral Economics, now publishers, vol. 1(1-2), pages 55-73, January.
    7. S. Rao Aiyagari, 1994. "Uninsured Idiosyncratic Risk and Aggregate Saving," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 109(3), pages 659-684.
    8. Erzo F. P. Luttmer, 2005. "Neighbors as Negatives: Relative Earnings and Well-Being," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 120(3), pages 963-1002.
    9. Claudio Campanale, 2007. "Increasing Returns to Savings and Wealth Inequality," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 10(4), pages 646-675, October.
    10. Veblen, Thorstein, 1899. "The Theory of the Leisure Class," History of Economic Thought Books, McMaster University Archive for the History of Economic Thought, number veblen1899.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    ‘‘Keeping up with the Joneses”; Consumption cascades; Heterogeneous agents; Wealth inequality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory

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