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Inequality, poverty and economic growth

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  • Breunig, Robert
  • Majeed, Omer

Abstract

Recent research has highlighted a negative impact of inequality on economic growth. We re-evaluate this hypothesis focusing on both inequality and poverty and their interaction. We replicate previous results showing that inequality has a negative impact on growth. However, we show that when we account for both inequality and poverty, the negative effect of inequality on growth appears to be concentrated amongst countries with high poverty. This would argue for policies targeted towards alleviating poverty even if they have no effect on inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Breunig, Robert & Majeed, Omer, 2020. "Inequality, poverty and economic growth," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 83-99.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:inteco:v:161:y:2020:i:c:p:83-99
    DOI: 10.1016/j.inteco.2019.11.005
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    4. Sena Kimm Gnangnon, 2021. "Poverty volatility and poverty in developing countries," Economic Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(1), pages 84-95, February.
    5. Ibrahim Mohamed Ali Ali & Imed Attiaoui & Rabeh Khalfaoui & Aviral Kumar Tiwari, 2022. "The Effect of Urbanization and Industrialization on Income Inequality: An Analysis Based on the Method of Moments Quantile Regression," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 161(1), pages 29-50, May.
    6. Enisan Akinlo, Anthony, 2021. "Dynamic Linkages Between Government-Interventionists’ Policies, Growth, Inequality And Poverty In Nigeria," Ilorin Journal of Economic Policy, Department of Economics, University of Ilorin, vol. 8(2), pages 45-64, June.
    7. Mohamed Ali Chroufa & Nouri Chtourou, 2022. "Inequality and Growth in Tunisia: New Evidence from Threshold Regression," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 163(2), pages 901-924, September.
    8. Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm, 2020. "Effect of Poverty on Services Export Concentration in Developing Countries," EconStor Preprints 223178, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    9. Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm, 2021. "Do Unilateral Trade Preferences Help Reduce Poverty in Beneficiary Countries?," EconStor Preprints 247346, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    10. Foellmi, Reto & Baselgia, Enea, 2022. "Inequality and Growth: A Review on a Great Open Debate in Economics," CEPR Discussion Papers 17483, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    11. Ranti Darwin & Dyah Wulan Sari & Unggul Heriqbaldi, 2022. "Dynamic Linkages between Energy Consumption, Foreign Direct Investment, and Economic Growth: A New Insight from Developing Countries in Asia," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 12(6), pages 30-36, November.
    12. Olumide Olusegun Olaoye, 2022. "Sub‐Saharan Africa's debt‐financed growth: How sustainable and inclusive?," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 34(4), pages 443-458, December.
    13. Sèna Kimm Gnangnon, 2022. "Does poverty deter foreign direct investment flows to developing countries?," International Journal of Economic Policy Studies, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 297-330, February.
    14. Jacek Pietrucha, 2021. "Drivers of the Cash Paradox," Risks, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-17, December.
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    16. Chima M. Menyelim & Abiola A. Babajide & Alexander E. Omankhanlen & Benjamin I. Ehikioya, 2021. "Financial Inclusion, Income Inequality and Sustainable Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan African Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-15, February.
    17. Sèna Kimm Gnangnon, 2023. "Do unilateral trade preferences help reduce poverty in beneficiary countries?," International Journal of Economic Policy Studies, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 249-288, February.
    18. BANDA, Iges & WILLIAMS-ADEYANJU, Zainab & SKRAME, Dea, 2022. "Poverty, Education And Economic Growth: A Case Study Of Western Balkan Countries," Journal of Financial and Monetary Economics, Centre of Financial and Monetary Research "Victor Slavescu", vol. 10(1), pages 30-43, October.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Inequality; Economic growth; Poverty; Cross-country regressions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • I39 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Other

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