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Do financial reforms help stabilize inequality?

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  • McAdam, Peter
  • Christopoulos, Dimitris

Abstract

We explore the relationship between financial reforms and income inequality using a panel of 29 countries over 1975-2005. We extend panel unit root tests to allow for the presence of some financial-reform covariates and further suggest an associated but novel, semi-parametric approach. Results demonstrate that although both gross and net Gini indices follow a unit root process, this picture can change when financial reform indices are accounted for. In particular, whilst gross Gini coefficients are generally not stabilized by financial reforms, net measures are (more likely to be). Thus financial reforms enacted in the presence of a strong safety net would seem preferable. JEL Classification: C01, C12, D63, G15

Suggested Citation

  • McAdam, Peter & Christopoulos, Dimitris, 2015. "Do financial reforms help stabilize inequality?," Working Paper Series 1780, European Central Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecb:ecbwps:20151780
    Note: 50336
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    9. Papadopoulos, Georgios, 2019. "Income inequality, consumption, credit and credit risk in a data-driven agent-based model," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 39-73.
    10. Krawczyk, Jacek B & Townsend, Wilbur, 2015. "New Zealand inequality and the struggle between capital and labour," Working Paper Series 4156, Victoria University of Wellington, School of Economics and Finance.
    11. Raju, Arun & Roy, Partho S, 2019. "Renewable Natural Gas Research Center Project," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt0055g3kb, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    12. Shengquan Wang & Rong Luo, 2024. "Income distribution, financial liberalisations and banking stability: Theory and international evidence," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(3), pages 2837-2864, July.
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    14. Yongfen Shi & Sudeshna Paul & Sudharshan Reddy Paramati, 2022. "The impact of financial deepening on income inequality: Empirical evidence from Australia," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(3), pages 3564-3579, July.
    15. G. P. Manish & Colin O’Reilly, 2019. "Banking regulation, regulatory capture and inequality," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 180(1), pages 145-164, July.
    16. Dang, Dong Quang & Wu, Weiou & Korkos, Ioannis, 2024. "Stock market and inequality distributions – Evidence from the BRICS and G7 countries," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 1172-1190.
    17. 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.
    18. Shaikh, Aijaz A. & Glavee-Geo, Richard & Karjaluoto, Heikki, 2017. "Exploring the nexus between financial sector reforms and the emergence of digital banking culture – Evidences from a developing country," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 1030-1039.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    financial reform; fractional integration; Gini coefficient; inequality; panel; unit root;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C01 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - General - - - Econometrics
    • C12 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Hypothesis Testing: General
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets

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