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Markups and Inequality

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  • Corina Boar
  • Virgiliu Midrigan

Abstract

We study optimal product market interventions in an unequal economy in which firm ownership is concentrated and markups increase with firm market shares. We characterize optimal regulation in a static Mirrleesian setting in which we impose no constraints on the shape of interventions, and take into account their general equilibrium and distributional effects. We find that optimal regulation improves allocative efficiency, thereby increasing product market concentration. Though it leads to greater inequality, optimal regulation increases the equilibrium wage, benefiting most households. This result extends to a dynamic setting with capital and wealth accumulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Corina Boar & Virgiliu Midrigan, 2019. "Markups and Inequality," NBER Working Papers 25952, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:25952
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    Cited by:

    1. Matthias Kehrig & Nicolas Vincent, 2021. "The Micro-Level Anatomy of the Labor Share Decline," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 136(2), pages 1031-1087.
    2. Eren Gürer, 2022. "Rising markups and optimal redistributive taxation," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 29(5), pages 1227-1259, October.
    3. Boar, Corina & Knowles, Matthew, 2024. "Optimal taxation of risky entrepreneurial capital," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    4. Boyan Jovanovic, 2019. "The entrepreneurship premium," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 53(3), pages 555-568, October.
    5. Tarek Benjamin Moll & Lukasz Rachel & Pascual Restrepo, 2019. "Uneven Growth: Automation’s Impact on Income and Wealth Inequality," Boston University - Department of Economics - The Institute for Economic Development Working Papers Series dp-333, Boston University - Department of Economics.
    6. Mertens, Matthias & Mottironi, Bernardo, 2023. "Do larger firms exert more market power? Markups and markdowns along the size distribution," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 121283, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Corina Boar & Matthew Knowles, 2020. "Entrepreneurship, Agency Frictions and Redistributive Capital Taxation," Discussion Paper Series, School of Economics and Finance 202004, School of Economics and Finance, University of St Andrews.
    8. Patrick Macnamara & Myroslav Pidkuyko & Raffaele Rossi, 2021. "Marginal tax changes with risky investment," Working Papers 2116, Banco de España.
    9. Han, Minsoo & Pyun, Ju Hyun, 2021. "Markups and income inequality: Causal links, 1975-2011," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(2), pages 290-312.
    10. Benhabib, Jess & Hager, Mildred, 2021. "Revenue diversion, the allocation of talent, and income distribution," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 138-144.

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    JEL classification:

    • D4 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design
    • E2 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment
    • L1 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance

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