This paper surveys the evidence, theoretical and empirical, relating to the possibility of achieving more egalitarian distributions of income than are typical in modern societies. The first four parts of the paper (Introduction, Improving efficiency an equality, The ownership of firms, and Taxation) are mainly concerned with the probably extent of the equality-efficiency trade-off, where the instruments that could be used to effect an increase in equality are property rights in firms and taxation (personal income, profit, and wealth). The fifth part (The political economy of equality) discusses the political feasibility of effecting redistribution, and in particular, why redistribution has not been more dramatic in democracies."
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Paper provided by California Davis - Department of Economics in its series Department of Economics with number
96-09.
Length: Date of creation: Date of revision: Handle: RePEc:fth:caldec:96-09
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