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Income Inequality, Trade and Financial Openness

Author

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  • G. C. Lim

    (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne)

  • Paul D. McNelis

    (Department of Finance, Graduate School of Business Administration, Fordham University)

Abstract

This paper examines the relationships between the Gini coefficient, trade-openness, foreign aid and foreign direct investment flows. Panel data estimates show that trade openness can be effective for changing income inequality, but its effectiveness depends on the stage of development. Simulation results show that the Gini and openness can be negatively or positively correlated — it depends on the capital intensity and on the degree of openness. Overall, the results suggest that trade and financial openness can be effective policies for reducing inequality in low income countries, if they significantly increase the marginal productivity of labour through capital intensive methods of production.

Suggested Citation

  • G. C. Lim & Paul D. McNelis, 2014. "Income Inequality, Trade and Financial Openness," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2014n07, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    • Handle: RePEc:iae:iaewps:wp2014n07
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    File URL: http://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/downloads/working_paper_series/wp2014n07.pdf
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    7. Azevedo, Joao Pedro & David, Antonio C. & Bastos, Fabiano Rodrigues & Pineda, Emilio, 2014. "Fiscal adjustment and income inequality : sub-national evidence from Brazil," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6945, The World Bank.
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    9. Jorge Rojas-Vallejos & Stephen Turnovsky, 2015. "Erratum to: The Consequences of Tariff Reduction for Economic Activity and Inequality," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 26(4), pages 601-631, September.
    10. Mert Akyuz & Ghislain Nono Gueye & Cagin Karul, 2022. "Long-run dynamics between trade liberalization and income inequality in the European Union: a second generation approach," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 49(3), pages 769-792, August.
    11. Lyu, Chaofeng & Xiao, Ziheng & Pu, Yun, 2023. "Financial openness and firm exports: Evidence from Foreign-owned Banks in China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    12. Bucevska Vesna, 2019. "Determinants of Income Inequality in EU Candidate Countries: A Panel Analysis," Economic Themes, Sciendo, vol. 57(4), pages 397-413, December.
    13. Jorge Rojas-Vallejos & Stephen J. Turnovsky, 2017. "Tariff Reduction and Income Inequality: Some Empirical Evidence," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 28(4), pages 603-631, September.
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    15. José Alves, 2018. "A DSGE Model to Evaluate the Macroeconomic Impacts of Taxation," Working Papers REM 2018/62, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, REM, Universidade de Lisboa.
    16. Ahmed Mohamed Ezzat, 2018. "Trade Openness: An Effective tool for Poverty Alleviation or an Instrument for Increasing Poverty Severity?," Working Papers 1248, Economic Research Forum, revised 07 Nov 2018.
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    18. Pierre Monnin, 2014. "Inflation and Income Inequality in Developed Economies," Working Papers 1401, Council on Economic Policies.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gini coefficient; openness;

    JEL classification:

    • E10 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - General
    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics

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