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Inequality and Public Policy

Author

Listed:
  • Zeira, Joseph
  • Battisti, Michele

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between public policies and economic inequality. It shows that public policies have a significant and large effect on inequality. One influence is through redistribution, as fiscal policy affects the distribution of disposable income through progressive direct taxation and through social benefits. This effect is captured by a single comprehensive variable, which is public expenditures as percent of GDP. Public policy affects the distribution of market incomes as well, through public education, through hiring to the public sector, through building infrastructure and through labor market regulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Zeira, Joseph & Battisti, Michele, 2018. "Inequality and Public Policy," CEPR Discussion Papers 13134, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:13134
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Robert C. Feenstra & Robert Inklaar & Marcel P. Timmer, 2015. "The Next Generation of the Penn World Table," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 105(10), pages 3150-3182, October.
    2. Markus Brueckner & Era Dabla Norris & Mark Gradstein, 2015. "National income and its distribution," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 149-175, June.
    3. Alberto Alesina & Michele Battisti & Joseph Zeira, 2018. "Technology and labor regulations: theory and evidence," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 41-78, March.
    4. Atkinson, A B, 1997. "Bringing Income Distribution in from the Cold," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 107(441), pages 297-321, March.
    5. Orsetta Causa & Mikkel Hermansen, 2017. "Income redistribution through taxes and transfers across OECD countries," OECD Economics Department Working Papers 1453, OECD Publishing.
    6. Barro, Robert J, 2000. "Inequality and Growth in a Panel of Countries," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 5-32, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Governments Bear Much of the Responsibility for Rising Inequality—But Also Have the Tools to Reduce It
      by Michele Battisti and Joseph Zeira in Pro-Market on 2019-02-26 14:39:47

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Marcos Sanso-Navarro & María Vera-Cabello, 2020. "Income Inequality and Persistence Changes," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 152(2), pages 495-511, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Public policy; Income distribution; Redistribution; Income inequality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models

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