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The Institutional Foundations of Inequality and Growth

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  • Lewis Davis
  • Mark Hopkins

Abstract

After a decade of research, the effect of inequality on long-run economic growth remains unresolved, in part because researchers have treated omitted variable bias as an estimation problem rather than a deeper question of causality. In this article we argue that the key omitted variable is the quality of economic institutions. Using both cross-country and panel data specifications, we find no direct effect of inequality on growth in the long-run. Rather, the protection of property rights simultaneously raises growth rates and reduces income inequality. We interpret these findings as evidence that insecure property rights disproportionately disadvantage the poor.

Suggested Citation

  • Lewis Davis & Mark Hopkins, 2011. "The Institutional Foundations of Inequality and Growth," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(7), pages 977-997.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:47:y:2011:i:7:p:977-997
    DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2010.527953
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Lidia Ceriani & Simona Scabrosetti & Francesco Scervini, 2022. "Inequality, Privatization and Democratic Institutions in Developing Countries," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 240(1), pages 95-124, March.
    2. Callais, Justin T. & Young, Andrew T., 2023. "A rising tide that lifts all boats: An analysis of economic freedom and inequality using matching methods," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(3), pages 744-777.
    3. Neves, Pedro Cunha & Afonso, Óscar & Silva, Sandra Tavares, 2016. "A Meta-Analytic Reassessment of the Effects of Inequality on Growth," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 386-400.
    4. Duong, Khanh & Nguyen Phuc Van, 2023. "Innovation and Globalization: Benefactors or Barriers to Inclusive Growth?," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1357, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    5. Lewis Davis, 2019. "Growth, Inequality and Tunnel Effects: A Formal Mode," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 1103-1119, April.
    6. Francesco Caracciolo & Fabio Santeramo, 2013. "Price Trends and Income Inequalities: Will Sub-Saharan Africa Reduce the Gap?," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 25(1), pages 42-54.
    7. Cakal-Velagic Jurdal & Silajdzic Sabina, 2024. "The Effects of Macroeconomic and Financial Development on Income Inequality: Evidence from the Western Balkans," South East European Journal of Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 19(1), pages 50-62.
    8. Davis, Lewis S. & Knauss, Matthew, 2013. "The moral consequences of economic growth: An empirical investigation," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 43-50.
    9. Daxin Dong & Boyang Xu & Ning Shen & Qian He, 2021. "The Adverse Impact of Air Pollution on China’s Economic Growth," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-27, August.
    10. Vianna, Andre C. & Mollick, Andre V., 2018. "Institutions: Key variable for economic development in Latin America," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 42-58.
    11. Cheikh Loucoubar & Richard Paul & Avner Bar-Hen & Augustin Huret & Adama Tall & Cheikh Sokhna & Jean-François Trape & Alioune Badara Ly & Joseph Faye & Abdoulaye Badiane & Gaoussou Diakhaby & Fatoumat, 2011. "An Exhaustive, Non-Euclidean, Non-Parametric Data Mining Tool for Unraveling the Complexity of Biological Systems – Novel Insights into Malaria," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(9), pages 1-16, September.
    12. David Castells-Quintana & Vicente Royuela, 2017. "Tracking positive and negative effects of inequality on long-run growth," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 53(4), pages 1349-1378, December.
    13. Lawrence Adu Asamoah, 2021. "Institutional Quality and Income Inequality in Developing Countries: A Dynamic Panel Threshold Analysis," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 21(2), pages 123-143, April.
    14. Hajamini, Mehdi, 2020. "Analyzing the Causal Relationships between Economic Growth, Income Inequality, and Transmission Channels: New Empirical Evidences from Iran," Journal of Money and Economy, Monetary and Banking Research Institute, Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran, vol. 15(3), pages 313-342, July.

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