IMF Working Papers

The Political Economy of Inclusive Growth: A Review

BySimon Johnson, Priscilla S Muthoora

March 19, 2021

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Format: Chicago

Simon Johnson, and Priscilla S Muthoora. "The Political Economy of Inclusive Growth: A Review", IMF Working Papers 2021, 082 (2021), accessed 12/7/2025, https://doi.org/10.5089/9781513574189.001

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Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Summary

In this paper, we review the role of the political economy in inclusive growth. We find that political economy forces on the demand and supply side have weakened redistribution over time and contributed to a new wave of populism. We document growing support for a rethink of the social contract to make growth more inclusive and discuss some of its broad elements.

Subject: Economic growth, Economic sectors, Expenditure, Financial crises, Fiscal redistribution, Inclusive growth, Income, Income inequality, National accounts

Keywords: COVID-19, Europe, Fiscal redistribution, Global, government commitment, government legitimacy, government policy, Growth, Inclusive growth, Income, Income inequality, income skew, Inequality, inhibiting government responsiveness, Labor program, opposition to Redistribution, Political Economy, populist government, public social, Redistribution, skew of voter turnout, Social protection spending