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Inequality in developing economies: the role of institutional development

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  • Adalgiso Amendola
  • Joshy Easaw
  • Antonio Savoia

Abstract

This paper studies the distributive impact of institutional change in developing countries. In such economies, property rights systems may preserve the interests of an influential minority, who can control key-markets, access to assets and investment opportunities, especially if they enjoy disproportionate political power. We test this hypothesis using cross-section and panel data methods on a sample of low- and middle-income economies from Africa, Asia and Latin America. Results suggest that: (a) increasing property rights protection increases income inequality; (b) this effect is larger in low-democracy environments; (c) some countries have developed political institutions capable of counterbalancing this effect. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2013

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  • Adalgiso Amendola & Joshy Easaw & Antonio Savoia, 2013. "Inequality in developing economies: the role of institutional development," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 43-60, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:pubcho:v:155:y:2013:i:1:p:43-60
    DOI: 10.1007/s11127-011-9838-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Lawrence Adu Asamoah & Francesco Figari & Andrea Vezzulli, 2021. "Spillover effects of innovation and entrepreneurial activity on income inequality in developing countries: A spatial panel approach," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(5), pages 1661-1686, October.
    2. Bruno Emmanuel Ongo Nkoa & Jacques Simon Song, 2022. "Does Institutional Quality increase inequalities in Africa?," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(3), pages 1896-1927, September.
    3. Chia, Poh San & Law, Siong Hook & Trinugroho, Irwan & Wiwoho, Jamal & Damayanti, Sylviana Maya & Sergi, Bruno S., 2022. "Dynamic linkages among transparency, income inequality and economic growth in developing countries: Evidence from panel vector autoregressive (PVAR) model," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    4. Adalgiso Amendola & Joshy Easaw & Antonio Savoia, 2013. "Inequality in developing economies: the role of institutional development," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 43-60, April.
    5. Kostas Rontos & Maria-Eleni Syrmali & Luca Salvati & Ioannis Vavouras, 2024. "Competitiveness, corruption, and income inequalities: approaching the ‘Janus’ face of development with simultaneous equation modelling," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 343-364, February.
    6. Ofori, Isaac K. & Dossou, Marcel A.M. & Asongu, Simplice A. & Armah, Mark K., 2023. "Bridging Africa’s income inequality gap: How relevant is China’s outward FDI to Africa?," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 47(1).
    7. Bazoumana Ouattara & Samuel Standaert, 2017. "Inequality And Property Rights, Revisited," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 17/935, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    8. Ademola Obafemi Young, 2019. "Growth Impacts of Income Inequality: Empirical Evidence From Nigeria," Research in World Economy, Research in World Economy, Sciedu Press, vol. 10(3), pages 226-262, December.
    9. Dieu Ne Dort Talla Fokam & Benjamin Fomba Kamga, 2023. "Ethnic diversity and poverty: the role of institutional quality," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 70(1), pages 27-61, March.
    10. Sun, Yang & Easaw, Joshy & Logothetis, Vassilis, 2023. "Assessing the Institutions-Innovation Channel within the Inequality-Growth Nexus," Cardiff Economics Working Papers E2023/21, Cardiff University, Cardiff Business School, Economics Section.
    11. Pantelis Kammas & Vassilis Sarantides, 2016. "Fiscal redistribution around elections when democracy is not “the only game in town”," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 168(3), pages 279-311, September.
    12. Ouattara, B. & Standaert, S., 2020. "Property rights revisited," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    13. Isaac K. Ofori & Toyo A. M. Dossou & Simplice A. Asongu & Mark K. Armah, 2021. "Bridging Africa’s Income Inequality Gap: How Relevant Is China’s Outward FDI to Africa?," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 21/098, African Governance and Development Institute..
    14. Marta Guerriero, 2019. "Democracy and the Labor Share of Income: A Cross-Country Analysis," ADB Institute Series on Development Economics, in: Gary Fields & Saumik Paul (ed.), Labor Income Share in Asia, chapter 0, pages 151-176, Springer.
    15. Kunal Sen, 2014. "Inclusive Growth: When May We Expect It? When May We Not?," Asian Development Review, MIT Press, vol. 31(1), pages 136-162, March.
    16. Alexander M. Yarkin, 2014. "Endogenous Property Rights, Conflict Intensity And Inequality In Asymmetric Rent-Seeking Contest," HSE Working papers WP BRP 72/EC/2014, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    17. Savoia, Antonio & Easaw, Joshy & McKay, Andrew, 2010. "Inequality, Democracy, and Institutions: A Critical Review of Recent Research," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 142-154, February.
    18. Takuma Kunieda & Keisuke Okada & Akihisa Shibata, 2017. "A Simple Model of Contract Enforcement Institutions," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(3), pages 410-434, August.
    19. José María, Larrú, 2012. "La relación entre la ayuda al desarrollo y la desigualdad. Evidencia y justificación teórica [Aid and inequality relationship. Evidence and theoretical justification]," MPRA Paper 38857, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    20. Kammas, Pantelis & Sarantides, Vassilis, 2019. "Do dictatorships redistribute more?," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 176-195.
    21. Ahmad, Mahyudin, 2016. "Middle income trap and income inequality: Empirical evidence on the distributional effect of economic liberalization and political regime," MPRA Paper 76437, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    22. Balcazar Salazar,Carlos Felipe, 2015. "Long-run effects of democracy on income inequality : evidence from repeated cross-sections," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7153, The World Bank.
    23. Ee, Mong Shan & Chao, Chi-Chur & Wang, Leonard F.S. & Yu, Eden S.H., 2018. "Environmental corporate social responsibility, firm dynamics and wage inequality," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 63-74.
    24. Antonio Savoia & Kunal Sen, 2015. "Measurement, Evolution, Determinants, And Consequences Of State Capacity: A Review Of Recent Research," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 441-458, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Inequality; Developing economies; Institutions; Property rights; Democracy; O15; O17; D70;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
    • D70 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - General

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