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Increasing returns to scale within limits: A model of ICT and its effect on the income distribution and occupation choice

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  • Wang, Tianxi
  • Wright, Greg C.

Abstract

A key feature of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is that they increase the size of the market – or the “scale of operation” – for workers in some occupations. We model the scale of operation as the limit up to which the production technology displays increasing returns to scale. We then explore the implications of this feature of ICT for the income distribution within affected occupations, as well as for individuals' occupational choices. Within occupations, an increase in the scale of operation intensifies competition between workers and increases inequality. It also drives the lowest-ability workers out of the occupation while reducing the earnings of the next lowest-ability workers when the substitutability between the output of the affected occupations and that of the rest of the economy is low.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Tianxi & Wright, Greg C., 2020. "Increasing returns to scale within limits: A model of ICT and its effect on the income distribution and occupation choice," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jetheo:v:189:y:2020:i:c:s0022053120300983
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jet.2020.105105
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Income inequality; Technological change; Increasing returns to scale;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • D33 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Factor Income Distribution

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