Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/46148 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2010
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 5178
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This paper explores if more generous social spending polices in fact lead to less income inequality, or if redistributive outcomes are offset by behavioral disincentive effects. To account for the inherent endogeneity of social policies with regard to inequality levels, I apply the System GMM estimator and use the presumably random incidence of certain diseases as instruments for social spending levels. The regression results suggest that more social spending effectively reduces inequality levels. The result is robust with respect to the instrument count and different data restrictions. Looking at the structure of benefits, particularly unemployment benefits and public pensions are responsible for the inequality reducing impact. More targeted benefits, however, do not significantly reduce income inequality. Rather, their positive effect on pre-government income inequality hints at substantial disincentive effects.
Subjects: 
social benefits
redistribution
income inequality
System GMM
JEL: 
D31
D60
H20
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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