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Inequality and Economic Growth: The Perspective of the New Growth Theories

TLDR
This paper analyzed the relationship between inequality and economic growth from two directions, showing that when capital markets are imperfect, there is not necessarily a trade-off between equity and efficiency, and provided an explanation for two recent empirical findings, namely, the negative impact of inequality and the positive effect of redistribution upon growth.
Abstract
We analyze the relationship between inequality and economic growth from two directions. The first part of the survey examines the effect of inequality on growth, showing that when capital markets are imperfect, there is not necessarily a trade-off between equity and efficiency. It therefore provides an explanation for two recent empirical findings, namely, the negative impact of inequality and the positive effect of redistribution upon growth. The second part analyzes several mechanisms whereby growth may increase wage inequality, both across and within education cohorts. Technical change, and in particular the implementation of "General Purpose Technologies," stands as a crucial factor in explaining the recent upsurge in wage inequality.

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Essays on Trade and Equity

TL;DR: In addition, the recent spell of wage inequality and unemployment in OECD countries has added interest to the consequences of trade openness as mentioned in this paper, as well as many diverse and contradictory opinions exist.
Posted Content

The Demand for Tests

TL;DR: The authors analyzes consumers' demand for product tests in a surrounding of symmetric but imperfect information and shows that the demand for information of existing customers is higher than that of potential new ones.

The Effects of Income inequality on Economic Growth Evidence from MENA Countries

Hamid Lahouij
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the impacts of income inequality and other economic growth determinants on economic growth of some selected oil-importing MENA countries using a panel data for the time span 1980-2007.
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Does wealth inequality reduce the gains from trade

TL;DR: This paper showed that the difference in growth rates between the period an economy is open and the period it is closed depends inversely on the degree of wealth inequality prior to opening, and suggested that access to credit and lack thereof may lie behind these results.
References
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Report SeriesDOI

Initial conditions and moment restrictions in dynamic panel data models

TL;DR: In this paper, two alternative linear estimators that are designed to improve the properties of the standard first-differenced GMM estimator are presented. But both estimators require restrictions on the initial conditions process.

The mechanics of economic development

Abstract: This paper considers the prospects for constructing a neoclassical theory of growth and international trade that is consistent with some of the main features of economic development. Three models are considered and compared to evidence: a model emphasizing physical capital accumulation and technological change, a model emphasizing human capital accumulation through schooling, and a model emphasizing specialized human capital accumulation through learning-by-doing.
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Legal Determinants of External Finance

TL;DR: The authors showed that countries with poorer investor protections, measured by both the character of legal rules and the quality of law enforcement, have smaller and narrower capital markets than those with stronger investor protections.
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An Exploration in the Theory of Optimum Income Taxation

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors make the following simplifying assumptions: (1) Intertemporal problems are ignored; (2) the tax system that would bring about that result would completely discourage unpleasant work; and (3) what such a tax schedule would look like; and what degree of inequality would remain once it was established.
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Income Distribution and Macroeconomics

TL;DR: The authors analyzes the role of wealth distribution in macroeconomics through investment in human capital and shows that the initial distribution of wealth affects aggregate output and investment both in the short and in the long run, as there are multiple steady states.
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