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Infrastructure And Inequality: Insights From Incorporating Key Economic Facts About Household Heterogeneity

Author

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  • Klenert, David
  • Mattauch, Linus
  • Edenhofer, Ottmar
  • Lessmann, Kai

Abstract

We study the impacts of investment in public capital on equity and efficiency. Taking into account stylized facts on wealth accumulation, we model agent heterogeneity through differences in saving behavior, income source and time preference. We find that in the long run, public investment is Pareto-improving and that it reduces inequality in wealth, welfare, and income at the same time, if it is financed by a capital tax. Consumption tax financing is also Pareto-improving but distribution-neutral. Only for labor tax financing, a trade-off between equity and efficiency occurs. Additionally, we find that agents differ in their preferred tax rates.The results for capital and labor tax financing are valid for both, the case of decreasing and constant returns to accumulable factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Klenert, David & Mattauch, Linus & Edenhofer, Ottmar & Lessmann, Kai, 2018. "Infrastructure And Inequality: Insights From Incorporating Key Economic Facts About Household Heterogeneity," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 22(4), pages 864-895, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:macdyn:v:22:y:2018:i:04:p:864-895_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Mattauch, Linus & Klenert, David & Stiglitz, Joseph E. & Edenhofer, Ottmar, 2022. "Overcoming wealth inequality by capital taxes that finance public investment," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 383-395.
    2. Osvaldo Nina, 2021. "Efecto del COVID-19 en el sistema de intermediación financiera: El caso boliviano," Development Research Working Paper Series 04/2021, Institute for Advanced Development Studies.
    3. Siegmeier, Jan & Mattauch, Linus & Franks, Max & Klenert, David & Schultes, Anselm & Edenhofer, Ottmar, "undated". "A Public Finance Perspective on Climate Policy: Six Interactions That May Enhance Welfare," Climate Change and Sustainable Development 202119, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM).
    4. Hiroaki Sasaki, 2025. "The future of growth and distribution in an economy with automation technology," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 145(1), pages 1-30, June.
    5. Serban Raicu & Dorinela Costescu & Mihaela Popa & Vasile Dragu, 2021. "Dynamic Intercorrelations between Transport/Traffic Infrastructures and Territorial Systems: From Economic Growth to Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-16, October.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • E60 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - General
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • H54 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Infrastructures

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