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Volatility Widens Inequality. Could Aid and Remittances Help?

Author

Listed:
  • Lisa CHAUVET

    (IRD-DIAL)

  • Marin FERRY

    (FERDI)

  • Patrick GUILLAUMONT

    (Ferdi)

  • Sylviane GUILLAUMONT JEANNENEY

    (Ferdi)

  • Sampawende J.-A. TAPSOBA

    (Fonds monétaire international)

  • Laurent WAGNER

    (Ferdi)

Abstract

We analyse the relationship between income volatility and inequality and the conditional role played by aid and remittances. Using a panel of 142 countries for the period 1973 to 2012, we find that income volatility has an adverse impact on inequality, and that the poorest people are the most exposed to these fluctuations. However, while aid and remittances do not seem to have a clear direct impact on inequality, we uncover robust evidence which suggests that aid helps to dampen the negative effects of volatility on the distribution of income, while remittances do not.Keywords: Volatility, Inequality, Aid and Remittances

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa CHAUVET & Marin FERRY & Patrick GUILLAUMONT & Sylviane GUILLAUMONT JEANNENEY & Sampawende J.-A. TAPSOBA & Laurent WAGNER, 2017. "Volatility Widens Inequality. Could Aid and Remittances Help?," Working Papers P158, FERDI.
    • Handle: RePEc:fdi:wpaper:3083
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    Cited by:

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    2. Sevde Arpaci‐Ayhan, 2023. "Foreign aid as a catalyst for improving productive capabilities in recipients," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(5), pages 738-760, July.
    3. Chang, Shinhye & Gupta, Rangan & Miller, Stephen M. & Wohar, Mark E., 2019. "Growth volatility and inequality in the U.S.: A wavelet analysis," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 521(C), pages 48-73.
    4. Tékam Oumbé, Honoré & Djeunankan, Ronald & Kos A Mougnol, Alice, 2024. "Analysing the effect of foreign aid on industrialization: Evidence from Africa," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    5. repec:beo:swcetp:23-09 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Robert Stojanov & Daniel Němec & Libor Žídek, 2019. "Evaluation of the Long-Term Stability and Impact of Remittances and Development Aid on Sustainable Economic Growth in Developing Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-18, March.
    7. Islamaj, Ergys & Kose, M. Ayhan, 2022. "What types of capital flows help improve international risk sharing?," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    8. Brice Kamguia & Ronald Djeunankan & Sosson Tadadjeu & Henri Njangang, 2024. "Does macroeconomic instability hamper access to electricity? Evidence from developing countries," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(2), pages 387-414, April.
    9. Avom, Désiré & Kamguia, Brice & Ngameni, Joseph Pasky & Njangang, Henri, 2021. "How does terms of trade volatility affect macroeconomic volatility? The roles of financial development and institutions," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 98-114.
    10. Désiré Avom & Brice Kamguia & Joseph Pasky Ngameni, 2021. "Does volatility hinder economic complexity?," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 41(3), pages 1187-1202.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Aid; Income volatility; Inequality; Remittances;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F35 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Aid
    • F24 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Remittances
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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