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Competition, Income Distribution, and the Middle Class: An Experimental Study

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  • Bernhard Kittel
  • Fabian Paetzel
  • Stefan Traub

Abstract

We study the effect of competition on income distribution by means of a two-stage experiment. Heterogeneous endowments are earned in a contest, followed by a surplus-sharing task. The experimental test confirms our initial hypothesis that the existence of a middle class is as effective as institutional hurdles in limiting the power of the less able in order to protect the more able players from being expropriated. Furthermore, majoritarian voting with a middle class involves fewer bargaining impasses than granting veto rights to the more able players and, therefore, is more efficient.

Suggested Citation

  • Bernhard Kittel & Fabian Paetzel & Stefan Traub, 2015. "Competition, Income Distribution, and the Middle Class: An Experimental Study," Journal of Applied Mathematics, Hindawi, vol. 2015, pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:hin:jnljam:303912
    DOI: 10.1155/2015/303912
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    Cited by:

    1. Bernasconi, Michele & Neunhoeffer, Frieder, 2023. "The income inequality trap: When redistributive preferences do not correct greater inequality," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    2. Paetzel, Fabian & Lorenz, Jan & Tepe, Markus, 2018. "Transparency diminishes framing-effects in voting on redistribution: Some experimental evidence," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 169-184.
    3. Alexander Lenger & Stephan Wolf & Nils Goldschmidt, 2021. "Choosing inequality: how economic security fosters competitive regimes," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 19(2), pages 315-346, June.

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