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Growth and inequality: a demographic explanation

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  • Miyazawa, Kazutoshi

Abstract

This paper investigates the relationship between growth and inequality from a demographic point of view. In an extended model of the accidental bequest with endogenous fertility, we analyze the effects of a decrease in the old-age mortality rate on the equilibrium growth rate as well as on the income distribution. We show that the relationship between growth and inequality is at first positive and then may be negative in the process of population aging. The results are consistent with the empirical evidence in some developed countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Miyazawa, Kazutoshi, 2005. "Growth and inequality: a demographic explanation," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 6546, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:6546
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    2. Wang, Xinxin & Chen, Kevin & Huang, Zuhui & Robinson, Sherman, 2013. "Demographic Transition and Income Distribution in China: CGE Modeling with Top-Down Micro-Simulation," Conference papers 332353, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    3. Koichi Fukumura & Kohei Nagamachi & Yasuhiro Sato & Kazuhiro Yamamoto, 2020. "Demographics, immigration, and market size," The Japanese Economic Review, Springer, vol. 71(4), pages 597-639, October.
    4. Maksim Yemelyanau, 2009. "Inequality in Belarus from 1995 to 2007," BEROC Working Paper Series 01, Belarusian Economic Research and Outreach Center (BEROC).
    5. Ken Tabata, 2015. "Population Aging and Growth: the Effect of PAYG Pension Reform," Discussion Paper Series 125, School of Economics, Kwansei Gakuin University, revised Jan 2015.
    6. Pestieau, Pierre & Ponthiere, Gregory, 2016. "Longevity Variations And The Welfare State," Journal of Demographic Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 82(2), pages 207-239, June.
    7. Klaus Prettner, 2013. "Population aging and endogenous economic growth," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 26(2), pages 811-834, April.
    8. Marc Fleurbaey & Marie‐Louise Leroux & Pierre Pestieau & Gregory Ponthiere & Stephane Zuber, 2022. "Premature deaths, accidental bequests, and fairness," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 124(3), pages 709-743, July.
    9. Akira Yakita, 2012. "Different demographic changes and patterns of trade in a Heckscher–Ohlin setting," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 25(3), pages 853-870, July.
    10. Koichi Fukumura & Kohei Nagamachi & Yasuhiro Sato & Kazuhiro Yamamoto, 2017. "Demographics, Immigration, and Market Size," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-1048, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.
    11. Wang, Xinxin & Chen, Kevin Z. & Robinson, Sherman & Huang, Zuhui, 2016. "Will China’s demographic transition exacerbate its income inequality? A CGE modeling with top-down microsimulation:," IFPRI discussion papers 1560, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    12. Wang, Xinxin & Chen, Kevin & Huang, Zuhui, 2013. "The Impact of China's Demographic Transition on Economic Growth and Income Distribution: CGE Modeling with Top-Down Micro-Simulation," 2013 Annual Meeting, August 4-6, 2013, Washington, D.C. 151276, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    13. Hung-Ju Chen, 2010. "Life expectancy, fertility, and educational investment," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 23(1), pages 37-56, January.
    14. Ken‐ichi Hashimoto & Ken Tabata, 2016. "Demographic change, human capital accumulation and R&D‐based growth," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 49(2), pages 707-737, May.
    15. Ito, Hiroyuki & Tabata, Ken, 2008. "Demographic structure and growth: The effect of unfunded social security," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 100(2), pages 288-291, August.
    16. Ken Tabata, 2015. "Population Aging and Growth: The Effect of Pay-as-You-Go Pension Reform," FinanzArchiv: Public Finance Analysis, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 71(3), pages 385-406, September.
    17. Aso, Hiroki, 2020. "Endogenous lifetime, intergenerational mobility and economic development," MPRA Paper 99582, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    18. José Carlos Coelho & José Alves, 2021. "Two-way relationship between inequality and growth within fiscal policy channel: an empirical assessment for European countries," Working Papers REM 2021/0205, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, REM, Universidade de Lisboa.
    19. Lin Shu-Chin & Huang Ho-Chuan & Kim Dong-Hyeon & Yeh Chih-Chuan, 2009. "Nonlinearity between Inequality and Growth," Studies in Nonlinear Dynamics & Econometrics, De Gruyter, vol. 13(2), pages 1-20, May.
    20. Čobanović, Katarina & Nikolić-Đorić, Emilija & Mutavdžić, Beba, 2007. "Relation of Socio-Economic and Demographic Factors in Rural Development of Serbia," 100th Seminar, June 21-23, 2007, Novi Sad, Serbia and Montenegro 162339, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    21. Prashant Kumar Choudhary & Priyanka Saharia, 2023. "Global income inequality and measuring values with the world values survey," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 25(1), pages 103-122, June.
    22. Ken Tabata, 2017. "Population Aging, Unfunded Social Security and Economic Growth," Discussion Paper Series 155, School of Economics, Kwansei Gakuin University, revised Jan 2017.
    23. Maksim Yemelyanau, 2008. "Inequality in Belarus from 1995 to 2005," CERGE-EI Working Papers wp356, The Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education - Economics Institute, Prague.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Inequality; Growth; Fertility; Accidental bequest;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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