What drives the cross-country growth and inequality correlation ?

Abstract

We present a neo-classical model that explores the determinants of growth-inequality correlation and attempts to reconcile the seemingly conflicting evidence on the nature of the growth-inequality relationship. The initial distribution of human capital determines the long-run income distribution and the growth rate by influencing the occupational choice of the agents. The steady-state proportion of adults that innovates and updates human capital is path dependent. The output elasticity of skilled-labour, barriers to knowledge spillovers, and the degree of redistribution determine the range of steady-state equilibria. From a calibration experiment we report that a skill-intensive technology, low barriers to knowledge spillovers, and high degrees of redistribution characterize the industrial countries with a positive growth-inequality correlation. A negative correlation between growth and inequality arises for the group of non-industrial countries with the opposite characteristics.