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Growing (Un)equal: Fiscal Policy and Income Inequality in China and BRIC+

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  • Mr. Serhan Cevik
  • Carolina Correa-Caro

Abstract

This paper investigates the empirical characteristics of income inequality in China and a panel of BRIC+ countries over the period 1980–2013, with a focus on the redistributive contribution of fiscal policy. Using instrumental variable techniques to deal with potential endogeneity, we find evidence supporting the hypothesis of the existence of a Kuznets curve—an inverted Ushaped relationship between income inequality and economic development—in China and the panel of BRIC+ countries. In the case of China, the empirical results indicate that government spending and taxation have opposing effects on income inequality. While government spending appears to have a worsening impact, taxation improves income distribution. Even though the redistributive effect of fiscal policy in China appears to be stronger than what we identify in the BRIC+ panel, it is not large enough to compensate for the adverse impact of other influential factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Serhan Cevik & Carolina Correa-Caro, 2015. "Growing (Un)equal: Fiscal Policy and Income Inequality in China and BRIC+," IMF Working Papers 2015/068, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2015/068
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    Cited by:

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    2. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Yuan, Zihao & Ho, Shan-Ju, 2022. "How does export diversification affect income inequality? International evidence," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 410-421.
    3. Mark Edem Kunawotor & Charles Barnor & Raymond Dziwornu, 2021. "The Income Redistributive Effects of Taxes in Africa," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 41(3), pages 1579-1591.
    4. Maryam Akmal & Sanjeev Gupta & João Tovar Jalles, 2020. "Tax Revenue Reforms and Income Distribution in Developing Countries," Policy Papers 175b, Center for Global Development.
    5. Kang, Jong Woo, 2015. "Interrelation between Growth and Inequality," ADB Economics Working Paper Series 447, Asian Development Bank.
    6. Mr. Waikei R Lam & Mr. Philippe Wingender, 2015. "China: How Can Revenue Reforms Contribute to Inclusive and Sustainable Growth?," IMF Working Papers 2015/066, International Monetary Fund.
    7. Wilkinson, Michael & Lokdam, Hjalte, 2018. "Law and political economy," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 87544, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    8. UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa & Ayodele Odusola, "undated". "Fiscal Policy, Redistribution and Inequality in Africa," UNDP Africa Policy Notes 2017-08, United Nations Development Programme, Regional Bureau for Africa.
    9. Sonali Jain-Chandra & Tidiane Kinda & Kalpana Kochhar & Shi Piao & Johanna Schauer, 2019. "Sharing the Growth Dividend: Analysis of Inequality in Asia," Journal of Banking and Financial Economics, University of Warsaw, Faculty of Management, vol. 2(12), pages 5-28, September.
    10. Le, Thai-Ha & Nguyen, Canh Phuc & Su, Thanh Dinh & Tran-Nam, Binh, 2020. "The Kuznets curve for export diversification and income inequality: Evidence from a global sample," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 21-39.
    11. Mark Edem Kunawotor & Godfred Alufar Bokpin & Charles Barnor, 2020. "Drivers of income inequality in Africa: Does institutional quality matter?," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 32(4), pages 718-729, December.
    12. Anping Chen & Nicolaas Groenewold, 2016. "Output Shocks In China: Do The Distributional Effects Depend On The Regional Source?," Economics Discussion / Working Papers 16-20, The University of Western Australia, Department of Economics.
    13. Odusola, Ayodele, 2017. "Fiscal Policy, Redistribution and Inequality in Africa," UNDP Africa Reports 267032, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
    14. Barhoom Faeyzh, 2023. "Revisiting the Financial Development and Income Inequality Nexus: Evidence from Hungary," Acta Universitatis Sapientiae, Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 11(1), pages 227-257, October.
    15. N''Yilimon Nantob, 2016. "Taxation and Income Inequality in Developing Countries: An Empirical Investigation," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 36(3), pages 1508-1522.
    16. Durongkaveroj, Wannaphong, 2022. "Structural Transformation, Income Inequality and Government Expenditure: Evidence from International Panel Data," Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, vol. 56(3), pages 29-44.
    17. Anis Chowdhury & Kwame Sundaram Jomo, 2018. "Inequality and Its Discontents," Development, Palgrave Macmillan;Society for International Deveopment, vol. 61(1), pages 21-29, December.
    18. Odusola, Ayodele, 2017. "Fiscal Space, Poverty and Inequality in Africa," UNDP Africa Economists Working Papers 268726, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
    19. repec:rac:ecchap:2017-08 is not listed on IDEAS
    20. Hammed Oluwaseyi Musibau & Abdulrasheed Zakari & Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary, 2024. "Exploring the Fiscal policy—income inequality relationship with Bayesian model averaging analysis," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 1-14, April.
    21. Xiaoyu Yu & Yajie Li & Daniel Q. Chen & Xiaotong Meng & Xiangming Tao, 2019. "Entrepreneurial bricolage and online store performance in emerging economies," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 29(2), pages 167-185, June.

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