Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/37461 
Year of Publication: 
2010
Series/Report no.: 
Beiträge zur Jahrestagung des Vereins für Socialpolitik 2010: Ökonomie der Familie - Session: Empirical Studies of Inequality No. E4-V3
Publisher: 
Verein für Socialpolitik, Frankfurt a. M.
Abstract: 
When it comes to the inequality-growth relationship, the empirical literature offers contradictory assessments: Estimators based on time-series variation only (i.e., differences-based estimators) indicate a strong positive link while estimators also exploiting the cross-sectional variation (i.e., level-based estimators) suggest a negative relationship. Taking advantage of a new dataset, the present paper confirms this conflicting pattern - but also offers an explanation on the basis of a simple model: The seemingly inconsistent empirical results just mirror different aspects of reality. More specifically, we argue that the differences-based methods are prone to reflect the (mostly) positive short- or medium-run implications of inequality while the level-based estimators also incorporate the negative consequences - which require more time to materialize. Thus, the latter estimates come close to reflect the adverse overall impact of inequality in the long run.
Subjects: 
Inequality
growth
medium-run effects
long-run effects
JEL: 
O11
O15
C23
Document Type: 
Conference Paper

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