Spring Meetings 2014 : Seminar: The Macroeconomics of Income Inequality: A Global Perspective

IMF Seminars

The Macroeconomics of Income Inequality:
A Global Perspective

April 11, 2014, 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
George Washington University, Jack Morton Auditorium

Overview

Rising income inequality is, by now, universally acknowledged as a critical economic, social and political issue and one that is not confined to a particular group of countries or any particular region of the world. The seminar would explore the macroeconomic implications of rising income inequality, the potential trade-off between redistributive policies and growth, and policy measures that are most likely to deliver redistribution with the least harm to growth.

Some key questions for discussion include:

Should policymakers view income inequality as part of the pantheon of key determinants of economic growth and stability?
What are the key mechanisms through which income inequality affects macroeconomic performance?
If inequality is important for economic growth, what should policymakers do about it, and what is the role of redistributive policies?