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On Finance's Disparate Labor Share Dynamics: A Neoclassical Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Adnan Velic

    (Technological University Dublin)

Abstract

Labor's income share experiences a much lower decline in finance than in the remainder of the market economy. We find that the neoclassical model of income distribution can explain these heterogeneous sectoral dynamics. Finance's lower labor share decline is a reflection of its weaker net labor‐augmenting productivity growth, as driven by unskilled labor. This counters the stronger skill‐induced capital-labor synergies and capital intensity in the sector, which act to inflate the absolute size of labor share changes. Jointly, relative skilled labor supply, capital growth, and technical change channels generate relative skilled labor share changes that coincide exactly with the data.

Suggested Citation

  • Adnan Velic, 2023. "On Finance's Disparate Labor Share Dynamics: A Neoclassical Perspective," Trinity Economics Papers tep1523new, Trinity College Dublin, Department of Economics, revised Feb 2026.
    • Handle: RePEc:tcd:tcduee:tep1523new
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • G2 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • O4 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity

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