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Does equality reduce growth? Some empirical evidence

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  • Marta Bengoa
  • Blanca Sanchez-Robles

Abstract

This study intends to provide some empirical evidence on the connection between equality and growth. Accordingly, two different samples of countries have been explored over the last three decades using panel data. In the first subsample, encompassed by medium income nations, the relationship between equality (proxied by the Gini index) and growth seems to be hump shaped. In the second subsample, made up by high-income countries, the connection is unambiguously negative - more equality is detrimental for growth. These results suggest that the impact of equality on growth may be different at the various stages of development.

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  • Marta Bengoa & Blanca Sanchez-Robles, 2005. "Does equality reduce growth? Some empirical evidence," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(8), pages 479-483.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:apeclt:v:12:y:2005:i:8:p:479-483
    DOI: 10.1080/13504850500120177
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    3. Jakub Bartak & Łukasz Jabłoński, 2020. "Inequality and growth: What comes from the different inequality measures?," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 72(2), pages 185-212, April.
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    5. Mehmet Balcilar & Rangan Gupta & Wei Ma & Philton Makena, 2021. "Income inequality and economic growth: A re‐examination of theory and evidence," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(2), pages 737-757, May.
    6. Jorge Alberto Charles Coll, 2014. "Inequality and growth in the context of the Mexican economy: Does inequality matter for growth?," Working Papers 331, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    7. Shafi, Maryam & Asghar, Zahid, 2015. "Tax Policy and Economic Growth: A Semi-Parametric Approach Using AMT," MPRA Paper 66662, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Charles-Coll, Jorge A., 2010. "The optimal rate of inequality: A framework for the relationship between income inequality and economic growth," MPRA Paper 28921, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Veronica Amarante, 2014. "Revisiting Inequality and Growth: Evidence for Developing Countries," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(4), pages 571-589, December.
    10. Shinhye Chang & Matthew W. Clance & Giray Gozgor & Rangan Gupta, 2019. "A Reconsideration of Kuznets Curve across Countries: Evidence from the Co-summability Approach," Working Papers 201970, University of Pretoria, Department of Economics.
    11. T. Tavor & L. D. Gonen & M. Weber & U. Spiegel, 2018. "The Effects of Income Levels and Income Inequalities on Happiness," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(7), pages 2115-2137, October.
    12. Charles-Coll, Jorge & Mayer Granados, Elisabeth L., 2017. "How much Inequality is Harmful for Growth? The Growth Maximizing Rate of Inequality in the Context of the Mexican Economy," Economia Internazionale / International Economics, Camera di Commercio Industria Artigianato Agricoltura di Genova, vol. 70(3), pages 301-318.
    13. Skare, Marinko & Porada-Rochoń, Małgorzata, 2022. "Technology and social equality in the United States," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    14. Brida, Juan Gabriel & Carrera, Edgar J. Sanchez & Segarra, Verónica, 2020. "Clustering and regime dynamics for economic growth and income inequality," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 99-108.
    15. Ruijia Wu & Rafael Alvarado & Priscila Méndez & Brayan Tillaguango, 2024. "Impact of Informational and Cultural Globalization, R&D, and Urbanization on Inequality," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 1666-1702, March.
    16. Seher Gülşah Topuz, 2022. "The Relationship Between Income Inequality and Economic Growth: Are Transmission Channels Effective?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 1177-1231, August.
    17. Mariuam SHAFI & Zahid ASGHAR & Saqlain RAZA, 2016. "Analyzing Tax Policy and Economic Growth by Using Semi-Parametric Approach," Journal of Economic and Social Thought, KSP Journals, vol. 3(4), pages 521-533, December.
    18. Adalgiso Amendola & Roberto Dell�Anno, 2014. "Income inequality and economic growth: an empirical investigation in Mediterranean countries," RIEDS - Rivista Italiana di Economia, Demografia e Statistica - The Italian Journal of Economic, Demographic and Statistical Studies, SIEDS Societa' Italiana di Economia Demografia e Statistica, vol. 68(2), pages 35-58, April-Jun.
    19. Ferdinand Niyimbanira, 2017. "Analysis of the Impact of Economic Growth on Income Inequality and Poverty in South Africa: The Case of Mpumalanga Province," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 7(4), pages 254-261.
    20. Muhammad Shahbaz, 2010. "Income inequality‐economic growth and non‐linearity: a case of Pakistan," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 37(8), pages 613-636, July.

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