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Piketty and the increasing concentration of wealth: some implications of alternative theories of dis-tribution and growth

Author

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  • Stirati, Antonella

    (Università degli Studi Roma Tre (University of Rome Tre))

Abstract

Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century has been spectacularly successful and a reason for this might be the fact that the theory that underlies his analysis is mainstream theory, with some adjustments or reservations on specific points, but never on the fundamentals. Thus, while Piketty’s empirical analysis often challenges received views and supports a non-apologetic view of capitalism’s dynamics, the book at the same time speaks a language which is common to mainstream economists around the world. This however is not always conducive to consistency and interpretative accuracy. A different theoretical perspective (and some empirical evi-dence) might lead to questioning some of the book’s central claims.

Suggested Citation

  • Stirati, Antonella, 2016. "Piketty and the increasing concentration of wealth: some implications of alternative theories of dis-tribution and growth," Centro Sraffa Working Papers CSWP18, Centro di Ricerche e Documentazione "Piero Sraffa".
  • Handle: RePEc:ris:sraffa:0018
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Odran Bonnet & Pierre-Henri Bono & Guillaume Flamerie de La Chapelle & Etienne Wasmer, 2014. "Does housing capital contribute to inequality? A comment on Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the 21st Century," Working Papers hal-03460508, HAL.
    2. Enrico Sergio Levrero & Antonella Palumbo & Antonella Stirati (ed.), 2013. "Sraffa and the Reconstruction of Economic Theory: Volume One," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-137-31683-7, March.
    3. Robert Rowthorn, 2014. "A note on Piketty’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 38(5), pages 1275-1284.
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    5. Stirati, Antonella, 1992. "Unemployment, Institutions and the Living Standard in the Classical Theory of Wages," Contributions to Political Economy, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 11(0), pages 41-66.
    6. Pierangelo Garegnani, 2024. "Value and Distribution in the Classical Economists and Marx," Springer Studies in the History of Economic Thought, in: Roberto Ciccone (ed.), Capital Theory, the Surplus Approach, and Effective Demand, pages 305-340, Springer.
    7. Tony Aspromourgos, 2015. "Thomas Piketty, the Future of Capitalism and the Theory of Distribution: A Review Essay," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 66(2), pages 284-305, May.
    8. Pierangelo Garegnani, 2024. "Heterogeneous Capital, the Production Function and the Theory of Distribution," Springer Studies in the History of Economic Thought, in: Roberto Ciccone (ed.), Capital Theory, the Surplus Approach, and Effective Demand, pages 147-193, Springer.
    9. Stefan Homburg, 2015. "Critical remarks on Piketty's Capital in the Twenty-first Century," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(14), pages 1401-1406, March.
    10. Antonella Stirati, 2010. "Changes in Functional Income Distribution in Italy and Europe," Departmental Working Papers of Economics - University 'Roma Tre' 0119, Department of Economics - University Roma Tre.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Piketty; inequality; income distribution; capitalist dynamics;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • E25 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Aggregate Factor Income Distribution
    • P10 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - General

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