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Income and Wealth Inequality in Hong Kong, 1981–2020: The Rise of Pluto-Communism?

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas Piketty

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

  • Li Yang

    (DIW Berlin - Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung)

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to better understand the evolution and institutional roots of Hong Kong's growing economic inequality and political cleavages. By combining multiple sources of data (household surveys, fiscal data, wealth rankings, national accounts) and methodological innovations, two main findings are obtained. First, he evidence suggests a very large rise in income and wealth inequality in Hong Kong over the last four decades. Second, based on the latest opinion poll data, business elites, who carry disproportionate weight in Hong Kong's Legislative Council, are found to be more likely to vote for the pro-establishment camp (presumably to ensure that policies are passed that protect their political and economic interests). This paper argues that the unique alliance of government and business elites in a partially democratic political system is the plausible institutional root of Hong Kong's rising inequality and political cleavages.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Piketty & Li Yang, 2022. "Income and Wealth Inequality in Hong Kong, 1981–2020: The Rise of Pluto-Communism?," PSE-Ecole d'économie de Paris (Postprint) halshs-04157041, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:pseptp:halshs-04157041
    DOI: 10.1093/wber/lhac019
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    Cited by:

    1. Ho-Chun Herbert Chang & Brooke Harrington & Feng Fu & Daniel Rockmore, 2023. "Complex Systems of Secrecy: The Offshore Networks of Oligarchs," Papers 2303.03371, arXiv.org.
    2. Del Carmen, Giselle & Garriga, Santiago & Ponce, Wilman & Scot, Thiago, 2025. "Two decades of top income shares in Honduras," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    3. Xi Chen & Alfred M. Wu & Fen Lin, 2023. "Why Hong Kong People Rebel: The Role of Economic Frustration, Political Discontent and National Identity in Non-Institutional Political Participation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 168(1), pages 79-98, August.
    4. Khanday, Ishfaq Nazir & Tarique, Md., 2023. "Does income inequality respond asymmetrically to financial development? Evidence from India using asymmetric cointegration and causality tests," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 28(C).

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