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Inequality, Incomplete Contracts, and the Size Distribution of Business Firms

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  • Thomas Gall

    (Economic Theory II, University of Bonn)

Abstract

This paper analyzes the effects of intrafirm bargaining on the formation of firms in an economy with imperfect capital markets and contracting constraints. In equilibrium wealth inequality induces a heterogenous distribution of firm sizes allowing for firms both too small and too large in terms of technical efficiency. The findings connect well to empirical facts such as the missing middle of size distributions in developing countries. The model identifies a number of properties of the firm size distribution with respect to the wealth distribution and can encompass a non-monotonic relationship between aggregate wealth and inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Gall, 2005. "Inequality, Incomplete Contracts, and the Size Distribution of Business Firms," JEPS Working Papers 05-004, JEPS.
    • Handle: RePEc:jep:wpaper:05004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Sanjay Jain, 2021. "Informal employment or informal firms? Regulatory enforcement and the transformation of the informal sector," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-123, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    2. Roxana Gutiérrez-Romero, 2020. "Inequality affects long-run growth: Cross-industry, cross-country evidence," Working Papers 102, Queen Mary, University of London, School of Business and Management, Centre for Globalisation Research.
    3. Gutiérrez-Romero, Roxana, 2021. "How does inequality affect long-run growth? Cross-industry, cross-country evidence," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 274-297.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Intrafirm bargaining; matching; firm size distribution;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • C78 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Bargaining Theory; Matching Theory
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution

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