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Law of conservation of real wealth and rising inequality

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  • Yashin, Pete

Abstract

Nonfinancial and financial capital conflated in modern economy. Using accounting approach we separated them and compared the corresponding total values of nonfinancial capital and wealth. We consider these values to be equal. This statement is named “law of conservation of real wealth”: real value of aggregate wealth is equal to the total value of nonfinancial assets. The law holds automatically by virtue of balance sheet identity, if financial assets’ value equal to the counterpart obligations securing them. However such equality can be violated when securities freely circulating in modern financial markets lose their link with corresponding obligations. The resulting difference is equal to the divergence between the aggregate wealth and total value of nonfinancial assets, which indicates a violation of the law in nominal terms. We consider this divergence as excess unsecured component of wealth, whereas the real wealth continues to match the nonfinancial assets’ value. Such unsecured wealth can only arise due to discrepancy between savings and investment, along with difference between total Haig–Simons income (including capital gains) and expenditures in real sector. It makes impossible to display correctly flows simultaneously with stocks. Deviations of securities' value from corresponding obligations commonly accepted as temporary. However, along with cyclical fluctuations the unsecured US financial assets value has been steadily growing since the 1980s, exceeding $11 trillion in 2016. We consider the observed nominal violation of the law of conservation of wealth is a consequence of unlimited capitalists’ enrichment aspirations. Marketable securities are the tools they use to embody such desire; the effect enhanced by the procedures of corporate mergers and acquisitions. Yet, the unsecured wealth inflate financial bubbles; its growth turns out a sufficient condition for wealth and income inequality rising. Then the aggregate consumer demand growth is hindered, and appetite for capital investment decreases. Unsecured component of capitalists’ profit is absorbed by an (unsecured) increase in the value of financial assets; it is not a source of capital investment; on the contrary, high financial returns contribute to crowding out investment from the real sector. Productivity growth slows down. Thus, increase in inequality reduces both aggregate demand and supply, which inhibits economic growth. US statistics confirms the above trends which led to the global crisis of 2007-2008. It has not cured the economy; unsecured wealth continues to grow increasing inequality, which dumps output growth. Black swans in 2020 have inspired inevitable arriving of new crisis.

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  • Yashin, Pete, 2020. "Law of conservation of real wealth and rising inequality," MPRA Paper 99308, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:99308
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    1. Yashin, Pete, 2020. "Финансиалиация Усиливает Неравенство И Заводит Экономику В Тупик [Financialization increases inequality and leads economy to a dead end]," MPRA Paper 101063, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Yashin, Pete, 2020. "Financialization increases inequality and leads economy to a dead end," MPRA Paper 101061, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Yashin, Pete, 2020. "Virtual wealth is growing," MPRA Paper 99610, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Yashin, Pete, 2020. "Виртуальное Богатство Растет [Virtual wealth is growing]," MPRA Paper 99611, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    capital; wealth; inequality; accounting identity; Haig–Simons income; crises;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E01 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General - - - Measurement and Data on National Income and Product Accounts and Wealth; Environmental Accounts
    • G10 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)

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