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Inequality of Opportunity, Inequality of Income and Economic Growth

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  • Mr. Shekhar Aiyar
  • Mr. Christian H Ebeke
Abstract
We posit that the relationship between income inequality and economic growth is mediated by the level of equality of opportunity, which we identify with intergenerational mobility. In economies characterized by intergenerational rigidities, an increase in income inequality has persistent effects—for example by hindering human capital accumulation— thereby retarding future growth disproportionately. We use several recently developed internationally comparable measures of intergenerational mobility to confirm that the negative impact of income inequality on growth is higher the lower is intergenerational mobility. Our results suggest that omitting intergenerational mobility leads to misspecification, shedding light on why the empirical literature on income inequality and growth has been so inconclusive.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Shekhar Aiyar & Mr. Christian H Ebeke, 2019. "Inequality of Opportunity, Inequality of Income and Economic Growth," IMF Working Papers 2019/034, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2019/034
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    WP; income; inequality relationship; Intergenerational Mobility; Income Inequality; Growth; inequality-growth nexus; income Gini coefficient; income inequality variable; per capita income; Personal income; Income distribution; Wages; Human capital; Global;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D3 - Microeconomics - - Distribution
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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