A second chance at success: A political economy perspective

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Arawatari, Ryo; Ono, Tetsuo
• 署名单位: University of Osaka
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC THEORY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-0531
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jet.2008.11.002
• 发表日期: 2009
• 页码: 1249-1277
• 关键词: Second chance; political economy; Stationary Markov-perfect equilibrium; redistribution; INEQUALITY; upward mobility; Intragenerational mobility

摘要

This paper characterizes a stationary Markov-perfect political equilibrium where agents vote over income taxation that distorts educational investment. Agents become rich or poor through educational investment, and the poor have a second chance at success. The results show the following concerning the cost of a second chance. First, when the cost is low, the economy is characterized by high levels of upward mobility and inequality, and a low tax burden supported by the poor with prospects for upward mobility. Second, when the cost is high, there are multiple equilibria with various patterns of upward mobility, inequality and redistribution. Numerical examples show that the shift from a high-cost economy to a low-cost economy may reduce social welfare. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.