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Entrepreneurial Rates of Return and Wealth Inequality

Author

Listed:
  • Bettina Brueggemann

    (McMaster University)

  • Zachary Mahone

    (McMaster University)

Abstract

This paper confronts a model of entrepreneurship and wealth inequality with empirical patterns on rates of return across the wealth distribution. We find the quantitative model implies rates of return largely consistent with the data. Rates of return to business wealth are high, heterogeneous, negatively correlated with net worth, and persistent. Both dispersion in marginal products of capital and leverage are important for explaining the patterns in rates of return along the wealth distribution. Heterogeneous abilities explain a large portion of cross-sectional dispersion and drive persistence in individual returns. (Copyright: Elsevier)

Suggested Citation

  • Bettina Brueggemann & Zachary Mahone, 2025. "Entrepreneurial Rates of Return and Wealth Inequality," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 58, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:issued:23-242
    DOI: 10.1016/j.red.2025.101298
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • D15 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Intertemporal Household Choice; Life Cycle Models and Saving
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution

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