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Income Inequality and Current Account Imbalances
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Author/Editor: |
Kumhof, Michael | Lebarz, Claire | Ranciere, Romain | Richter, Alexander W. | Throckmorton, Nathaniel A. |
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January 1, 2012 |
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Electronic Access: |
Free Full Text (PDF file size is 609KB)
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Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF. The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate.
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Summary: This paper studies the empirical and theoretical link between increases in income inequality and increases in current account deficits. Cross-sectional econometric evidence shows that higher top income shares, and also financial liberalization, which is a common policy response to increases in income inequality, are associated with substantially larger external deficits. To study this mechanism we develop a DSGE model that features workers whose income share declines at the expense of investors. Loans to workers from domestic and foreign investors support aggregate demand and result in current account deficits. Financial liberalization helps workers smooth consumption, but at the cost of higher household debt and larger current account deficits. In emerging markets, workers cannot borrow from investors, who instead deploy their surplus funds abroad, leading to current account surpluses instead of deficits.
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Series: |
Working Paper No. 12/8 |
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Subject(s): |
Credit demand | Cross country analysis | Current account deficits | Domestic debt | Economic models | Income distribution |
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Author's keyword(s): |
Current account imbalances; income inequality; financial liberalization. |
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Published: |
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January 1, 2012 |
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Format: |
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Paper |
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Stock No: |
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WPIEA2012008 |
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Pages: |
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43 |
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Price: |
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US$18.00 (Academic Rate: US$18.00 )
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