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Demand Composition and Income Distribution

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  • David Pothier
  • Mr. Damien Puy

Abstract

This paper highlights how changes in the composition of demand affect income dispersion in the short run. We first document how the share of aggregate spending dedicated to labour-intensive goods and services shrinks (expands) during downturns (booms), and argue that this contributes to the observed pro-cyclicality of employment and output in labour-intensive industries. Using a two-sector general equilibrium model, we then assess how this demand composition channel influences the cyclical properties of the income distribution. Consistent with empirical evidence, we find income inequality to be countercyclical due to changes in the level of employment and (to a lesser extent) relative factor prices. The model also shows that wealth redistribution policies can potentially involve a trade-off between equality and output, depending on how they affect the composition of aggregate demand.

Suggested Citation

  • David Pothier & Mr. Damien Puy, 2014. "Demand Composition and Income Distribution," IMF Working Papers 2014/224, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2014/224
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    Cited by:

    1. Yılmaz Ensar, 2016. "Market Imperfections and Income Distribution," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 16(2), pages 1147-1167, April.
    2. Beqiraj, Elton & Fanti, Lucrezia & Zamparelli, Luca, 2019. "Sectoral composition of output and the wage share: The role of the service sector," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 1-10.
    3. Francis Mensah & Guoqing Shi & Qingnian Yu & Emmanuel Bosompem Boadi & Francis Akorful Andam & Nicholas Anarfi Bofah, 2022. "The Impact of Resettlement in Urban Market Redevelopment on Income Inequality, Its Determinants, and Implications for the Resettled Population: Applying the Kejetia New Market Exemplar, Ghana," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-15, December.
    4. Clemens, Marius & Eydam, Ulrich & Heinemann, Maik, 2023. "Inequality over the business cycle: the role of distributive shocks," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 27(3), pages 571-600, April.

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