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The Effect of Firm-Level Investment on Inequality and Poverty around the World

Author

Listed:
  • Tosun, Mehmet S.

    (University of Nevada, Reno)

  • Watson, Ethan D.

    (North Carolina State University)

  • Yildiz, Serhat

    (University of Nevada, Reno)

Abstract

This paper investigates the effect of firm-level investment on the levels of income inequality and poverty. Using a sample of firms from 87 countries for the period from 1979 to 2018, we document that firm-level investment is negatively associated with various measures of income inequality. This negative association is robust to alternative firm-level capital investment proxies, empirical model specifications, and a variety of country-level controls. Further evidence shows that firm-level investment is also negatively related to several measures of poverty. Overall, our results indicate that firm-level capital expenditures provide benefit to the poor and, thus, decreases income inequality. Our findings indicate that firm-level capital investment can be a valuable tool for countries that are aiming to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals of reducing inequality and poverty. Our results may also be beneficial to policy makers as they consider a variety of regulatory and taxation measures that may constrain or help firm's ability to invest.

Suggested Citation

  • Tosun, Mehmet S. & Watson, Ethan D. & Yildiz, Serhat, 2022. "The Effect of Firm-Level Investment on Inequality and Poverty around the World," IZA Discussion Papers 15680, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15680
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    income inequality; corporate capital expenditure; poverty; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance

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