Capital and income inequality: An aggregate-demand complementarity
Accepted version
Peer-reviewed
Repository URI
Repository DOI
Change log
Authors
Bilbiie, Florin O
Känzig, Diego R
Surico, Paolo
Abstract
A novel complementarity between capital and income inequality leads to a significant amplification of the effects of aggregate-demand shocks on consumption. We characterize this finding using a simple model with heterogeneity in household saving and income, nominal rigidities, and capital. A fiscal policy that redistributes capital income causes further amplification, whereas redistributing profits generates dampening. After an interest rate shock, consumption inequality is more countercyclical than income inequality, consistent with the available empirical evidence. Procyclical investment also requires a more aggressive Taylor rule in order to attain determinacy, and aggravates the forward guidance puzzle.
Description
Keywords
38 Economics, 3801 Applied Economics, 3802 Econometrics, 3803 Economic Theory, 10 Reduced Inequalities
Journal Title
Journal of Monetary Economics
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
0304-3932
Volume Title
126
Publisher
Elsevier BV