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Human Capital Formation, Income Inequality and Growth

Author

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  • Jean-Marie Viaene

    (Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands)

  • Itzhak Zilcha

    (The Eitan Berglas School of Economics, Tel Aviv University, Israel)

Abstract

The paper studies the determinants of income distribution and growth in an overlapping generations economy withheterogenous households. Our framework has the following main features:heterogeneity of consumers with respect to wealth and parental human capital;intergenerational transfers, accomplished via investment in the education of the younger generation.Heterogeneity in income results from the distribution of human capital acrossindividuals in a non-degenerate way. The human capital production is affected by 'home-education' , provided bythe parents, as well as 'public-education , which is provided equally to all young individuals of the same generation.Due to investments in human capital our economy exhibits endogenous growth. First, we explore the effects oftechnological change in human capital formation, upon the distribution of income at each date along theequilibrium path. Second, we study the impact of such technogical progress on growth and relate these results tothe income distribution inequality. Third, we provide numerical simulations to quantify the effect of changes in theparameters of the model. Simulation results include exact Gini coefficients and tax rate on labor determinedendogenously through majority voting. This discussion paper has lead to publication in: 'Inequality and Growth: Theory and Policy Implications' (2003), (T.S. Eicher, S.J. Turnovsky (eds), 89-117, MIT Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Jean-Marie Viaene & Itzhak Zilcha, 2001. "Human Capital Formation, Income Inequality and Growth," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 01-104/2, Tinbergen Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20010104
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Carolina Arteaga Cabrales, 2011. "Human Capital Externalities and Growth," Revista ESPE - Ensayos Sobre Política Económica, Banco de la República, vol. 29(66), pages 12-47, December.
    2. Jakub Bartak & Łukasz Jabłoński, 2020. "Inequality and growth: What comes from the different inequality measures?," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 72(2), pages 185-212, April.
    3. Niko Gobbin & Glenn Rayp, 2008. "Different ways of looking at old issues: a time-series approach to inequality and growth," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(7), pages 885-895.
    4. Sylvain Dessy & Tiana Rambeloma, 2009. "Immigration Policy, Remittances, and Growth in the Migrant-Sending Country," Cahiers de recherche 0915, CIRPEE.
    5. Nicolas Bauduin & Joël Hellier, 2006. "Skill Dynamics, Inequality and Social Policies," Working Papers 34, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    6. Guido Baldi, 2013. "Physical And Human Capital Accumulation And The Evolution Of Income And Inequality," Journal of Economic Development, Chung-Ang Unviersity, Department of Economics, vol. 38(3), pages 57-83, September.
    7. Ooft, Gavin & Eckhorst, Karel, 2013. "Human Capital Development and Economic Growth in Suriname," EconStor Preprints 215530, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    8. Nikos Benos, 2005. "Education Systems, Growth and Welfare," University of Cyprus Working Papers in Economics 5-2005, University of Cyprus Department of Economics.
    9. Nikos Benos, 2004. "Education Policies and Economic Growth," University of Cyprus Working Papers in Economics 4-2004, University of Cyprus Department of Economics.
    10. Niko Gobbin & Glenn Rayp & Dirk Van de gaer, 2007. "Inequality And Growth: From Micro Theory To Macro Empirics," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 54(4), pages 508-530, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Human Capital; Income Distribution; Endogenous Growth;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D9 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics
    • E2 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment
    • F2 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business
    • J2 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor

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