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Inequality and development: is the Kuznets curve in effect today?

Author

Listed:
  • Diego Martínez-Navarro

    (University of Almería)

  • Ignacio Amate-Fortes

    (University of Almería)

  • Almudena Guarnido-Rueda

    (University of Almería)

Abstract

The aim of this work is to study the Kuznets curve in order to examine whether the hypothesis on inequality and development that he posited in his 1955 article is verified or not when using the data at our disposal today; these data are more numerous, both for countries and periods available, than when Kuznets originally conducted his study. The approach that makes this research unique is that it will be performed by differentiating the sample in terms of underdeveloped and developed countries. In this regard, at present (with the data and methodologies of Cochrane–Orcutt and GMM System), the Kuznets hypothesis seems to be robustly verified because, when taking a variable other than the Log GDPpc (GDP per capita in logarithms) as a measure of development, such as the HDI or the proportional contribution of the agricultural sector on GDP, the relationship described by Kuznets still seems to be present; this is not a regularity when using the basic GDPpc variable. Moreover, it has been observed that, over the very long term, the Milanovic hypothesis seems to appear; namely, that inequality follows a sinusoid form rather than a concave curve. Finally, a section has been included in which we see how the 3 effects (scale, technique and composition) of world trade on inequality affect, as has been applied in recent years on CO2 emissions in the Environmental Kuznets Curve.

Suggested Citation

  • Diego Martínez-Navarro & Ignacio Amate-Fortes & Almudena Guarnido-Rueda, 2020. "Inequality and development: is the Kuznets curve in effect today?," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 37(3), pages 703-735, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:epolit:v:37:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s40888-020-00190-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s40888-020-00190-9
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    Cited by:

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    2. Saptorshee Kanto Chakraborty & Massimiliano Mazzanti, 2021. "Revisiting the literature on the dynamic Environmental Kuznets Curves using a latent structure approach," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 38(3), pages 923-941, October.
    3. Martínez-Navarro, Diego & Amate-Fortes, Ignacio & Guarnido-Rueda, Almudena & Oliver-Márquez, Francisco J., 2022. "Institutional Kuznets curve? An empirical analysis with panel data," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 35-39.
    4. Alan Barrell & Pawel Dobrzanski & Sebastian Bobowski & Krzysztof Siuda & Szymon Chmielowiec, 2021. "Efficiency of Environmental Protection Expenditures in EU Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-35, December.
    5. Sadeghi Amroabadi, Behrouz, 2022. "Analyzing the Asymmetric Cumulative Effects of Rentier State on Income Inequality in Mena Countries," Quarterly Journal of Applied Theories of Economics, Faculty of Economics, Management and Business, University of Tabriz, vol. 9(3), pages 113-146, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Kuznets curve; Economic inequality; Development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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