This paper analyzes how economic growth can be caused by changes in the income distribution. Persson and Tabellini (1994, The American Economic Review, 84, 600-621) argue that productivity-induced income inequality leads to lower growth since distortionary taxes increase and harm capital accumulation. However, this prediction is often challenged empirically. This paper distinguishes between capital income inequality and inequality induced by differences in labor productivity. Greater capital income inequality leads to lower labor tax rates, leading to higher growth. Using data for OECD countries, subsequent growth is found to be positively related to capital income inequality, and negatively related to labor income inequality, as originally conjectured.

中文翻译：

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二十一世纪的不平等与增长

本文分析了收入分配的变化如何导致经济增长。Persson 和 Tabellini (1994, The American Economic Review , 84, 600-621) 认为，生产力导致的收入不平等会导致增长放缓，因为扭曲性税收增加并损害资本积累。然而，这一预测经常受到经验的挑战。本文区分了资本收入不平等和由劳动生产率差异引起的不平等。更大的资本收入不平等导致更低的劳动税率，从而导致更高的增长。使用经合组织国家的数据，发现随后的增长与资本收入不平等呈正相关，与劳动收入不平等呈负相关，正如最初推测的那样。