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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

    as
    1. Kjetil Storesletten & Chris Telmer & Amir Yaron, 2007. "Asset Pricing with Idiosyncratic Risk and Overlapping Generations," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 10(4), pages 519-548, October.
    2. Abel, Andrew B, 1990. "Asset Prices under Habit Formation and Catching Up with the Joneses," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 80(2), pages 38-42, May.
    3. Marianne Bertrand & Adair Morse, 2016. "Trickle-Down Consumption," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 98(5), pages 863-879, December.
    4. Attanasio, Orazio P, et al, 1999. "Humps and Bumps in Lifetime Consumption," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, American Statistical Association, vol. 17(1), pages 22-35, January.
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. 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.
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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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