Income Distribution, Borrowing Constraints and Redistributive Policies

Arbeitspapier

This paper proposes an explanation for why universal suffrage has not implied larger rich-to-poor transfers of wealth. The main argument is that, in the presence of borrowing constraints, if current taxation finances (at least partially) policies that redistribute future income, the poor, who are more likely to be liquidity constrained, may form a coalition with the rich and vote for low redistribution. In this context, the effects of an increase in income inequality is concentrated among the poor or the middle class. In the former case, an increase in inequality tends to decrease redistribution, whereas, in the latter case, it tends to increase redistribution.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Quaderni - Working Paper DSE ; No. 359

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft

Contributors, Location and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Berti Ceroni, Carlotta ; Bellettini, Giorgio
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche (DSE)
• (where): Bologna
• (when): 1999

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.6092/unibo/amsacta/4950
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/159200
• Last update: 20.09.2024, 8:21 AM CEST