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Fiscal policy, composition of intergenerational transfers, and income distribution

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  • Alonso-Carrera, Jaime
  • Caballé, Jordi
  • Raurich, Xavier

Abstract

In this paper, we characterize the relationship between the initial distribution of human capital and physical inheritances among individuals and the long-run distribution of these two variables. In a model with indivisible investment in education, we analyze how the initial distribution of income determines the posterior intergenerational mobility in human capital and the evolution of intragenerational income inequality. This analysis enables us in turn to characterize the effects of fiscal policy on future income distribution and mobility when the composition of intergenerational transfers is endogenous. To this end, we consider the following government interventions: a pay-as-you-go social security system, a tax on inheritance, a tax on capital income, a tax on labor income, and a subsidy on education investment.

Suggested Citation

  • Alonso-Carrera, Jaime & Caballé, Jordi & Raurich, Xavier, 2012. "Fiscal policy, composition of intergenerational transfers, and income distribution," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 84(1), pages 62-84.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:84:y:2012:i:1:p:62-84
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2012.07.013
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    Cited by:

    1. Maebayashi, Noritaka, 2018. "Is an unfunded social security system good or bad for growth? A theoretical analysis of social security systems financed by VAT," MPRA Paper 90881, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Noritaka Maebayashi, 2020. "Is an unfunded social security system good or bad for growth? A theoretical analysis of social security systems financed by VAT," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 22(4), pages 1069-1104, August.
    3. Jaime Alonso-Carrera & Jordi Caballé & Xavier Raurich, 2016. "Intergenerational Mobility under Education-Effort Complementarity," Working Papers 905, Barcelona School of Economics.
    4. Chatzouz, Moustafa, 2014. "Government Debt and Wealth Inequality: Theory and Insights from Altruism," MPRA Paper 77007, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Jaime Alonso-Carrera & Jordi Caballé & Xavier Raurich, 2024. "The Great Gatsby Curve and the Carnegie Effect," Working Papers 1451, Barcelona School of Economics.
    6. Lorenzo Burlon, 2017. "Public expenditure distribution, voting, and growth," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 19(4), pages 789-810, August.
    7. Chih-Chin Ho & Ching-Yang Lin & Cheng-Tao Tang, 2013. "How Do Income and Bequest Taxes Affect Income Inequality? The Role of Parental Transfers," Working Papers EMS_2013_10, Research Institute, International University of Japan.
    8. Jordi Caballé, 2016. "Intergenerational mobility: measurement and the role of borrowing constraints and inherited tastes," SERIEs: Journal of the Spanish Economic Association, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 7(4), pages 393-420, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Altruism; Intergenerational transfers; Human capital; Income distribution;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • E13 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - Neoclassical

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