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Factor Substitution, Income Distribution and Growth in a Generalized Neoclassical Model

Author

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  • Irmen Andreas

    (University of Heidelberg, CEPR,London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

  • Klump Rainer

    (University of Frankfurt,Frankfurt, Germany)

Abstract

We analyze a generalized neoclassical growth model that combines a normalized CES production function and possible asymmetries of savings out of factor incomes. This generalized model helps to shed new light on a recent debate concerning the impact of factor substitution and income distribution on economic growth. We show that this impact relies on both an efficiency and a distribution effect, where the latter is caused by the distributional consequences of an increase in the elasticity of substitution. While the efficiency effect is always positive, the sign of the distribution effect depends on the particular savings hypothesis. If the savings rate out of capital income is substantial so that a certain threshold value is surpassed, the efficiency effect dominates and higher factor substitution accelerates the accumulation of capital and works as a major engine of growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Irmen Andreas & Klump Rainer, 2009. "Factor Substitution, Income Distribution and Growth in a Generalized Neoclassical Model," German Economic Review, De Gruyter, vol. 10(4), pages 464-479, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:germec:v:10:y:2009:i:4:p:464-479
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0475.2009.00491.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Xue, Jianpo & Yip, Chong K., 2012. "Factor Substitution And Economic Growth: A Unified Approach," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 16(4), pages 625-656, September.
    2. Rainer Klump & Peter McAdam & Alpo Willman, 2012. "The Normalized Ces Production Function: Theory And Empirics," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(5), pages 769-799, December.
    3. repec:bla:germec:v:10:y:2009:i::p:378-383 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Manuel Gómez, 2016. "Factor substitution is an engine of growth in a model with productive public expenditure," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 117(1), pages 37-48, January.
    5. Gómez, Manuel A., 2018. "Factor substitution and convergence speed in the neoclassical model with elastic labor supply," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 89-92.
    6. Gómez, Manuel A., 2017. "Factor substitution and long-run growth in the Lucas model with elastic labor supply," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 180-184.
    7. Yoseph Yilma Getachew, 2011. "Public Investment Policy, Distribution, and Growth: What Levels of Redistribution through Public Investment Maximize Growth?," DEGIT Conference Papers c016_072, DEGIT, Dynamics, Economic Growth, and International Trade.
    8. Hai Ha Pham & Ngoc-Sang Pham, 2025. "Wariness and Poverty Traps," Papers 2510.14418, arXiv.org.
    9. Manuel A. Gómez, 2020. "Factor substitution, long‐run growth, and speed of convergence in the one‐sector convex endogenous‐growth model," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 71(1), pages 2-21, February.
    10. Bjarne S. Jensen, 2009. "Dynamic Extensions of the Solow Growth Model (1956): Editorial," German Economic Review, Verein für Socialpolitik, vol. 10(4), pages 378-383, November.
    11. Gómez, Manuel A., 2018. "Economic growth and factor substitution with elastic labor supply," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 49-57.
    12. Gómez, Manuel A., 2023. "Factor substitution, long-run equilibrium, and convergence speed in the Lucas model," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    13. Irmen, Andreas, 2011. "Steady-state growth and the elasticity of substitution," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 35(8), pages 1215-1228, August.
    14. Gómez, Manuel A., 2015. "Capital–labor substitution and long-run growth in a model with physical and human capital," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 106-113.
    15. Manuel Gómez, 2014. "Optimal size of the government: the role of the elasticity of substitution," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 111(1), pages 29-53, February.
    16. Zhu, Xuehong & Zeng, Anqi & Zhong, Meirui & Huang, Jianbai, 2021. "Elasticity of substitution and biased technical change in the CES production function for China's metal-intensive industries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    17. Manuel A. Gómez, 2024. "Elasticity of substitution, long‐run growth, and convergence speed: A general framework," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 20(3), pages 352-370, September.
    18. Madziwa, Lawrence & Pillalamarry, Mallikarjun & Chatterjee, Snehamoy, 2023. "Integrating flexibility in open pit mine planning to survive commodity price decline," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    19. Jianpo Xue & Chong K. Yip, 2015. "Balanced-Budget Rules, Elasticity of Substitution, and Macroeconomic (In)Stability," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 17(2), pages 196-218, April.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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