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Growing (Un)equal: Fiscal Policy and Income Inequality in China and BRIC+

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  • Mr. Serhan Cevik
  • Carolina Correa-Caro

Abstract

This paper investigates the empirical characteristics of income inequality in China and a panel of BRIC+ countries over the period 1980–2013, with a focus on the redistributive contribution of fiscal policy. Using instrumental variable techniques to deal with potential endogeneity, we find evidence supporting the hypothesis of the existence of a Kuznets curve—an inverted Ushaped relationship between income inequality and economic development—in China and the panel of BRIC+ countries. In the case of China, the empirical results indicate that government spending and taxation have opposing effects on income inequality. While government spending appears to have a worsening impact, taxation improves income distribution. Even though the redistributive effect of fiscal policy in China appears to be stronger than what we identify in the BRIC+ panel, it is not large enough to compensate for the adverse impact of other influential factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Serhan Cevik & Carolina Correa-Caro, 2015. "Growing (Un)equal: Fiscal Policy and Income Inequality in China and BRIC+," IMF Working Papers 2015/068, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2015/068
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    6. Kang, Jong Woo, 2015. "Interrelation between Growth and Inequality," ADB Economics Working Paper Series 447, Asian Development Bank.
    7. Mr. Waikei R Lam & Mr. Philippe Wingender, 2015. "China: How Can Revenue Reforms Contribute to Inclusive and Sustainable Growth?," IMF Working Papers 2015/066, International Monetary Fund.
    8. Barhoom Faeyzh, 2023. "Revisiting the Financial Development and Income Inequality Nexus: Evidence from Hungary," Acta Universitatis Sapientiae, Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 11(1), pages 227-257, October.
    9. Sonali Jain-Chandra & Tidiane Kinda & Kalpana Kochhar & Shi Piao & Johanna Schauer, 2019. "Sharing the Growth Dividend: Analysis of Inequality in Asia," Journal of Banking and Financial Economics, University of Warsaw, Faculty of Management, vol. 2(12), pages 5-28, September.
    10. Wilkinson, Michael & Lokdam, Hjalte, 2018. "Law and political economy," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 87544, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    11. UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa & Ayodele Odusola, "undated". "Fiscal Policy, Redistribution and Inequality in Africa," UNDP Africa Policy Notes 2017-08, United Nations Development Programme, Regional Bureau for Africa.
    12. N''Yilimon Nantob, 2016. "Taxation and Income Inequality in Developing Countries: An Empirical Investigation," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 36(3), pages 1508-1522.
    13. Le, Thai-Ha & Nguyen, Canh Phuc & Su, Thanh Dinh & Tran-Nam, Binh, 2020. "The Kuznets curve for export diversification and income inequality: Evidence from a global sample," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 21-39.
    14. Mark Edem Kunawotor & Godfred Alufar Bokpin & Charles Barnor, 2020. "Drivers of income inequality in Africa: Does institutional quality matter?," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 32(4), pages 718-729, December.
    15. Durongkaveroj, Wannaphong, 2022. "Structural Transformation, Income Inequality and Government Expenditure: Evidence from International Panel Data," Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, vol. 56(3), pages 29-44.
    16. Anis Chowdhury & Kwame Sundaram Jomo, 2018. "Inequality and Its Discontents," Development, Palgrave Macmillan;Society for International Deveopment, vol. 61(1), pages 21-29, December.
    17. Odusola, Ayodele, 2017. "Fiscal Space, Poverty and Inequality in Africa," UNDP Africa Economists Working Papers 268726, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
    18. repec:rac:ecchap:2017-08 is not listed on IDEAS
    19. Anping Chen & Nicolaas Groenewold, 2016. "Output Shocks In China: Do The Distributional Effects Depend On The Regional Source?," Economics Discussion / Working Papers 16-20, The University of Western Australia, Department of Economics.
    20. Hammed Oluwaseyi Musibau & Abdulrasheed Zakari & Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary, 2024. "Exploring the Fiscal policy—income inequality relationship with Bayesian model averaging analysis," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 1-14, April.
    21. Xiaoyu Yu & Yajie Li & Daniel Q. Chen & Xiaotong Meng & Xiangming Tao, 2019. "Entrepreneurial bricolage and online store performance in emerging economies," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 29(2), pages 167-185, June.

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