It is well known that research and development (R&D) is an important engine for economic growth. Also, initial wealth inequality and subsequent economic growth are well known to be related. This paper links inequality and R&D-driven growth. It shows that in a class of economies where R&D is the main engine for growth, different wealth groups differ in their desire for aggregate innovative effort: the richer the individual the lower her ideal aggregate R&D investment. In so far as rich shareholders are able to pursue their common interests in avoiding to invest too much in R&D compared to their ideal level, a pro-labour government able to impose distortionary progressive taxation, by minimizing the difference between the rich and the poor can maximize growth. Such predicted negative relationship between desired R&D and dynastic wealth is robust to any subsidy rate lower than 100%.
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Paper provided by Department of Economics, University of Glasgow in its series Working Papers with number
2008_18.
Find related papers by JEL classification: O31 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Technological Change - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives O32 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Technological Change - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D O38 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Technological Change - - - Government Policy P16 - Economic Systems - - Capitalist Systems - - - Political Economy of Capitalism P48 - Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Other Economic Systems: Political Economy; Legal Institutions;
Property Rights
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Jones, Charles I., 2005.
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[Downloadable!] (restricted)
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Charles I. Jones, 2004.
"Growth and Ideas,"
NBER Working Papers
10767, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
[Downloadable!] (restricted)
Alberto Alesina & George-Marios Angeletos, 2005.
"Fairness and Redistribution,"
American Economic Review,
American Economic Association, vol. 95(4), pages 960-980, September.
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