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Income distribution, market structure, and individual welfare

Author

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  • Tarasov, Alexander

Abstract

This paper explores how income distribution affects market structure, prices, and economic well-being of different consumer groups. I consider a general equilibrium model of monopolistic competition with free entry, heterogenous firms and consumers that share identical but non-homothetic preferences. The results in the paper suggest that poverty reduction might be of a greater importance than lowering income inequality, as lower income inequality does not necessarily lead to welfare gains of the poor. In particular, I show that higher income inequality may benefit the poor via a trickle-down effect operating through the entry of firms into the market.

Suggested Citation

  • Tarasov, Alexander, 2009. "Income distribution, market structure, and individual welfare," Munich Reprints in Economics 19578, University of Munich, Department of Economics.
  • Handle: RePEc:lmu:muenar:19578
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    Cited by:

    1. Kichko, Sergei & Picard, Pierre M., 2023. "On the effects of income heterogeneity in monopolistically competitive markets," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    2. Picard, P.M. & Tampieri, A., 2024. "Quality and trade with many countries and industries," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    3. Sergey Kokovin & Alina Ozhegova & Shamil Sharapudinov & Alexander Tarasov & Philip Ushchev, 2024. "A Theory of Monopolistic Competition with Horizontally Heterogeneous Consumers," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 16(2), pages 354-384, May.
    4. P. M. Picard & A. Tampieri, 2021. "Vertical differentiation and trade among symmetric countries," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 71(4), pages 1319-1355, June.
    5. Tarasov, Alexander, 2009. "Consumer Preferences in Monopolistic Competition Models," MPRA Paper 19990, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Alexander Tarasov, 2012. "Trade Liberalization and Welfare Inequality: A Demand-Based Approach," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 114(4), pages 1296-1317, December.
    7. Alexander Tarasov, 2014. "Preferences and income effects in monopolistic competition models," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 42(3), pages 647-669, March.
    8. Namrata Gulati & Prabal Roy Chowdhury, 2010. "Income inequality, neighbourhood effects and product quality," Discussion Papers 10-06, Indian Statistical Institute, Delhi.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection

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