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Finance, Growth, and Inequality

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  • Mr. Ross Levine

Abstract

Finance and growth emerged as a distinct field of economics during the last three decades as economists integrated the fields of finance and economic growth and then explored the ramifications of the functioning of financial systems on economic growth, income distribution, and poverty. In this paper, I review theoretical and empirical research on the connections between the operation of the financial system and economic growth and inequality. While subject to ample qualifications, the preponderance of evidence suggests that (1) financial development—both the development of banks and stock markets—spurs economic growth and (2) better functioning financial systems foster growth primarily by improving resource allocation and technological change, not by increasing saving rates. Some research also suggests that financial development expands economic opportunities and tightens income distribution, primarily by boosting the incomes of the poor. This work implies that financial development fosters growth by expanding opportunities. Finally, and more tentatively, financial innovation—improvements in the ability of financial systems to ameliorate information and transaction costs—may be necessary for sustaining growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Ross Levine, 2021. "Finance, Growth, and Inequality," IMF Working Papers 2021/164, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2021/164
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Agénor, Pierre-Richard & Bayraktar, Nihal, 2023. "Capital requirements and growth in an open economy," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    2. Bofinger, Peter & Geißendörfer, Lisa & Haas, Thomas & Mayer, Fabian, 2023. "Credit as an instrument for growth: A monetary explanation of the Chinese growth story," W.E.P. - Würzburg Economic Papers 107, University of Würzburg, Department of Economics.
    3. Amjad Taha & Mucahit Aydin & Taiwo Temitope Lasisi & Festus Victor Bekun & Narayan Sethi, 2023. "Toward a sustainable growth path in Arab economies: an extension of classical growth model," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 9(1), pages 1-24, December.
    4. Adem Yavuz Elveren & Hale Kirmizioglu, 2022. "Financial Development and Female Labor Income Share: Evidence from Global Data," World Journal of Applied Economics, WERI-World Economic Research Institute, vol. 8(1), pages 35-49, June.
    5. Mduduzi Biyase & Talent Zwane & Precious Mncayi & Mokgadi Maleka, 2023. "Do Technological Innovation and Financial Development Affect Inequality? Evidence from BRICS Countries," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-18, March.
    6. Mallela, Keerti & Singh, Sunny Kumar & Srivastava, Archana, 2023. "Remittances, financial development, and income inequality: A panel quantile regression approach," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 171-186.
    7. Ohnsorge, Franziska & Capasso, Salvatore & Yu, Shu, 2022. "From Financial Development to Informality: A Causal Link," CEPR Discussion Papers 17565, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    8. Danilov, Yu., 2022. "Financial sector efficiency: Present concepts and the estimation problem," Journal of the New Economic Association, New Economic Association, vol. 57(5), pages 72-92.
    9. Bofinger, Peter & Geißendörfer, Lisa & Haas, Thomas & Mayer, Fabian, 2021. "Discovering the True Schumpeter - New Insights into the Finance and Growth Nexus," CEPR Discussion Papers 16851, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    10. Olivér Kovács, 2022. "Zombification and Industry 4.0—Directional Financialisation against Doomed Industrial Revolution," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-24, May.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    spurs economic growth; producing information; incomes of the poor; fields of finance; cost of capital; resource allocation; Financial sector development; Income distribution; Income inequality; Stock markets; Income; Global;
    All these keywords.

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