When human capital accumulation generates pecuniary externalities across professions, and capital markets are imperfect, persistent inequality "in utility and consumption" is inevitable in "any" steady state. This is true irrespective of the degree of divisibility in investments. However, divisibility (or fineness of occupational structure) has implications for both the multiplicity and Pareto-efficiency of steady states. Indivisibilities generate a continuum of inefficient and efficient steady states with varying "per capita" income. On the other hand, perfect divisibility typically implies the existence of a unique steady state distribution which is Pareto-efficient. Copyright The Review of Economic Studies Limited, 2003.
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Mookherjee, Dilip & Ray, Debraj, 2002.
"Persistent Inequality,"
Discussion Paper
57, Center for Intergenerational Studies, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
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Kiminori Matsuyama, 1998.
"Endogenous Inequality,"
Discussion Papers
1238, Northwestern University, Center for Mathematical Studies in Economics and Management Science.
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Mookherjee, Dilip & Ray, Debraj, 2002.
"Persistent Inequality,"
Discussion Paper
57, Center for Intergenerational Studies, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
[Downloadable!]
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