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The Investment Function Revisited: Disciplining Capital in Korea

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  • Seguino, Stephanie

Abstract

Post-Keynesian and Marxian macro models assume that wage increases that lower profits have an adverse impact on investment spending. The experience of Korea during the period 1975-1993 contradicts this assumption. This paper reports results obtained from estimating a modified neo-Kaleckian investment function that examines the impact of increases in the wage share on business spending. Results of the Granger tests that assess the direction of causality between wages, investment, and productivity are also given. Tests indicate that lagged values of the wage share of income have a positive impact on investment. There are several explanations for this, most of which stem from restrictions on foreign direct investment, and the government's ability to discipline capital through its control over loanable funds coupled with the use of measurable benchmarks in export sales in return for access to subsidized credit and other "carrots." Firms appear to be constrained by these factors to respond to wages hikes by adopting technological upgrades, thereby raising productivity and maintaining export competitiveness.

Suggested Citation

  • Seguino, Stephanie, 1999. "The Investment Function Revisited: Disciplining Capital in Korea," MPRA Paper 6539, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:6539
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    File URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/14043/1/MPRA_paper_14043.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Oyvat, Cem & Onaran, Özlem, 2022. "The effects of social infrastructure and gender equality on output and employment: The case of South Korea," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    2. Seguino, Stephanie, 2007. "Is more mobility good?: Firm mobility and the low wage-low productivity trap," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 27-51, March.
    3. repec:ilo:ilowps:478623 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Maks Tajnikar & Nina Ponikvar, 2006. "National Accounts Data and Macroeconomic Analysis: A Comparative Study of the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Ireland and Slovenia," Prague Economic Papers, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2006(2), pages 135-155.
    5. Özlem Onaran & Giorgos Galanis, 2013. "Income Distribution and Aggregate Demand: A Global Post-Keynesian Model," Working Papers wp319, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
    6. Stephanie Seguino & Caren A. Grown, 2006. "Feminist-Kaleckian Macroeconomic Policy for Developing Countries," Economics Working Paper Archive wp_446, Levy Economics Institute.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D33 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Factor Income Distribution
    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights

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