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The Effect of Inequality on Growth: Theory and Evidence from the Indian States

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  • Sugata Ghosh
  • Sarmistha Pal

Abstract

The paper examines the effect of inequality on growth among the subnational states in India. Theoretically, growth of the regional economy is driven by productive public investment in the provision of health and education services financed by a linear output tax, and the optimum tax rate is determined by the median voter. In contrast to existing results, the authors obtain an ambiguous relationship between initial inequality and subsequent economic growth. Analysis of the Indian state‐level data suggests that rural inequality influences growth of total output more than urban inequality, and does so negatively. The indicator of intersectoral inequality is more important in explaining sectoral output growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Sugata Ghosh & Sarmistha Pal, 2004. "The Effect of Inequality on Growth: Theory and Evidence from the Indian States," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 8(1), pages 164-177, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:rdevec:v:8:y:2004:i:1:p:164-177
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9361.2004.00226.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Sarmistha Pal & Robert Palacios, 2006. "Old Age Poverty In The Indian States:What Do The Household Data Tell Us?," Economics and Finance Discussion Papers 06-16, Economics and Finance Section, School of Social Sciences, Brunel University.
    2. Alokesh Barua & Aparna Sawhney, 2015. "Development Policy Implications for Growth and Regional Inequality in a Small Open Economy: The Indian Case," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 19(3), pages 695-709, August.
    3. Andrew McKay & Sarmistha Pal, 2003. "Relationships between consumption and inequality in the Indian states," Development and Comp Systems 0309005, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Sarmistha Pal & Sugata Ghosh, 2006. "Elite Dominance and Under-investment in Mass Education: Disparity in the Social Development of the Indian States, 1960-92," Economics and Finance Discussion Papers 06-14, Economics and Finance Section, School of Social Sciences, Brunel University.
    5. Sarmistha Pal & Robert Palacios, 2011. "Understanding Poverty among the Elderly in India: Implications for Social Pension Policy," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(7), pages 1017-1037.
    6. Andrew McKay & Sarmistha Pal, 2004. "Relationships between Household Consumption and Inequality in the Indian States," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(5), pages 65-90.
    7. Pal, Sarmistha & Ghosh, Sugata, 2008. "The Elite and the Marginalised: An Analysis of Public Spending on Mass Education in the Indian States," IZA Discussion Papers 3707, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. repec:rre:publsh:v:39:y:2009:i:1:p:23-48 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Sarmistha Pal & Robert Palacios, 2005. "Old Age Poverty In The Indian States: What The Household Data Can Say?," Labor and Demography 0505015, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • H54 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Infrastructures
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East

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