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Determinants of Governmental Redistribution: Income Distribution, Development Levels, and the Role of Perceptions

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  • Köllner, Sebastian
  • Gründler, Klaus

Abstract

We empirically investigate the relationship between income inequality and redistribution, accounting for the shape of the income distribution, different development levels, and subjective perceptions. Cross-national inequality datasets that have become available only recently allow for the assessment of the link for various sample compositions and several model specifications. Our results confirm the Meltzer-Richard hypothesis, but suggest that the relation between market inequality and redistribution is even stronger when using perceived inequality measures. The findings emphasize a decisive role of the middle class, though also approving a negative impact of top incomes. The Meltzer-Richard effect is less pronounced in developing economies with less sophisticated political rights, illustrating that it is the political channel through which higher inequality translates into more redistribution.

Suggested Citation

  • Köllner, Sebastian & Gründler, Klaus, 2016. "Determinants of Governmental Redistribution: Income Distribution, Development Levels, and the Role of Perceptions," VfS Annual Conference 2016 (Augsburg): Demographic Change 145619, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:vfsc16:145619
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    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm, 2020. "Aid for Trade flows and Poverty Reduction in Recipient-Countries," EconStor Preprints 213807, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    3. Kang, Sung Jin & Seo, Hwan-Joo, 2023. "Validity of the Meltzer and Richard hypothesis under captured democracy and policy regime hypotheses," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1732-1749.
    4. Juan A. Román-Aso & Héctor Bellido & Lorena Olmos, 2025. "When government’s economic ideology shapes income redistribution. Empirical evidence from the OECD," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 23(1), pages 177-204, March.
    5. Campomanes, Ignacio P., 2024. "The political economy of inequality, mobility and redistribution," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    6. Vu, Trung V., 2022. "Unbundling the effect of political instability on income redistribution," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    7. Kammas, Pantelis & Sarantides, Vassilis, 2019. "Do dictatorships redistribute more?," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 176-195.
    8. Dai, Darong, 2025. "Can the middle class benefit from more conservative redistribution?," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    9. Muinelo-Gallo, Leonel, 2022. "Business cycles and redistribution: The role of government quality," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 46(4).
    10. Campos-Vazquez, Raymundo M. & Krozer, Alice & Ramírez-Álvarez, Aurora A., 2023. "Preferred tax rates depend on the rates paid by the rich," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    11. Yongzheng Yang, 2023. "Does government social spending matter? Exploring how income inequality is associated with charitable giving," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 104(4), pages 728-741, July.
    12. Kim, Dong-Hyeon & Lin, Shu-Chin, 2023. "Income inequality, inflation and financial development," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 468-487.
    13. repec:osf:osfxxx:bazxr_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Sèna Kimm Gnangnon, 2021. "Exchange rate pressure, fiscal redistribution and poverty in developing countries," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 54(4), pages 1173-1203, November.
    15. Kim, Dong-Hyeon & Lin, Shu-Chin, 2024. "Inflation and wealth inequality," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 893-907.
    16. Brzezinski, Michal, 2022. "Does income redistribution impede innovation?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(10).
    17. Darong Dai & Guoqiang Tian, 2023. "Voting over selfishly optimal income tax schedules with tax-driven migrations," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 60(1), pages 183-235, January.
    18. Di Tommaso, Marco R. & Prodi, Elena & Di Matteo, Dante & Mariotti, Ilaria, 2022. "Local public spending, electoral consensus, and sustainable structural change," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 435-453.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government

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