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Using Labor Supply Elasticities to Learn about Income Inequality : The Role of Productivities versus Preferences

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  • Bergstrom,Katy Ann
  • Dodds,William

Abstract

This paper argues that labor supply elasticities encode information about the determinants of income inequality. In the theoretical framework, individuals choose labor supply conditional on productivities and preferences for consumption relative to leisure. The paper shows that reduced-form labor supply elasticities allow one to isolate the components of income due to productivities versus preferences. The paper then investigates what labor supply elasticities imply about the importance of productivities versus preferences in the United States. Estimates from the literature imply productivities drive most of income inequality. Larger income effects and larger differences between income and hours worked elasticities imply preferences play an increasingly important role.

Suggested Citation

  • Bergstrom,Katy Ann & Dodds,William, 2020. "Using Labor Supply Elasticities to Learn about Income Inequality : The Role of Productivities versus Preferences," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9102, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:9102
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    Cited by:

    1. Katy Bergstrom & William Dodds, 2023. "A General Theory of Inverse Welfare Functions," Working Papers 2308, Tulane University, Department of Economics.
    2. Rakhe Balachandran & Jerrod Penn & Maria Bampasidou, 2023. "Understanding the variation in estimates of off‐farm labour supply elasticities: A meta‐analysis," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(1), pages 116-134, February.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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