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Public Capital, Income Distribution and Growth

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  • Getachew, Yoseph

    (UNU-MERIT)

Abstract

Public capital investment plays an important role in long run growth through enhancing productivity and complementing the accumulation of private inputs. Under appropriate conditions, public capital could also have important implications for income distribution dynamics. When the credit market is imperfect and there are diminishing returns to private factors, income inequality is negatively related to economic growth. The dynamics of income distribution is determined by relative income shares of private input, wherever initial endowment differs among individuals. Therefore, if the provision of public capital has an effect on relative income shares of private inputs, then it will have an effect on income distribution dynamics. In this case, public capital once more becomes an important determinant of long-run growth through its indirect effect on income distribution. The paper studies this and other interesting issues with respect to public capital, income inequality and economic growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Getachew, Yoseph, 2008. "Public Capital, Income Distribution and Growth," MERIT Working Papers 2008-056, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    • Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2008056
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    File URL: https://www.merit.unu.edu/publications/wppdf/2008/wp2008-056.pdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Income Distribution; Public Capital; Economic Growth;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • H54 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Infrastructures
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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