Summary
The book under review combines a brief survey of the state of the art in income distribution theory, based primarily on the earlier contributions of the authors, with a wealth of information on the reduction (by about 50 percent) of income inequality in the Netherlands over the last 40 years. Furthermore, progress is charted towards a further reduction of inequality between now and 1990. This review argues that labour income is not just determined by (the demand for) technology and (the supply of) education, but also by the bias towards the demand for skilled labour that seems to result from the expansion of public expenditure. It is recommended that this expenditure incidence on the primary distribution of income be further explored in future research programmes, as it is likely to slow down further progress towards equality.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adelman, I. and S. Robinson,Income Distribution Policy in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Korea, Oxford, 1978.
Blankart, C. B., ‘Bureaucratic Problems in Public Choice: Why Do Public Goods Still Remain Public?’ Paper presented at the 34th Congress of the International Institute of Public Finance, Hamburg, September 1978, mimeographed.
Borcherding, T. E. (ed.),Budgets and Bureaucrats: The Sources of Government Growth, Durham, North Carolina, 1977.
Haveman, R. A., ‘Jan Tinbergen's Income Distribution: Analysis and Policies, A Review Article,’De Economist. CXXV (1977), pp. 161–73.
Keller, W. J., ‘Tax Incidence: A General Equilibrium Approach.’ Dissertation, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, 1979a.
Keller, W. J., ‘The Effect of Education, Technology and Public Expenditures on the Distribution of Income’. Discussion paper, Rotterdam Institute for Fiscal Studies, 7901, Rotterdam, 1979b, mimeographed.
McLure, Ch. E. Jr., ‘The Theory of Expenditure Incidence,’Finanzarchiv, XXX (1971–1972), pp. 432–53.
McLure, Ch. E., ‘On the Theory and Methodology of Estimating Benefit and Expenditure Incidence.’ Paper presented at the Workshop on Income Distribution and Its Role in Development, William. Marsh Rice University, Houston, Texas, April 26, 1974, mimeographed.
Ministerie van Volksgezondheid en Milieuhygiëne (VoMil),Financieel overzicht van de gezondheidszorg, The Hague, September 1978.
Musgrave, R. A.,The Future of Fiscal Policy, Louvain, 1978.
Peacock, A. T., ‘Giving Economic Advice in Difficult Times,’Three Banks Review, No. 113 (March 1977), pp. 2–23.
Peacock, A. T. and G. K. Shaw, ‘Is Fiscal Policy Dead?’Banca Nazionale del Lavoro Quarterly Review, No. 125 (June 1978), pp. 107–22.
Pen, J.,Harmony and Conflict in Modern Society, London, 1966.
Pen, J.,Income Distribution, Harmondsworth, 1971, 1974.
Pen, J., Discussion paper presented to the OECD Conference on Education, Inequality and Life Chances, Paris, 1974, mimeographed.
Pen, J. and J. Tinbergen,Naar een rechtvaardiger inkomensverdeling, Amsterdam, 1977.
Sen, A., Personal Utilities and Public Judgemets: Or What's Wrong with Welfare Economics?’ Paper presented at the 34th Congress of the International Institute of Public Finance, Hamburg, September 1978, mimeographed.
Sociaal-Economische Raad,Advies inzake omvang en groei van de collectieve sector, The Hague, September 1978.
Tinbergen, J.,Income Distribution: Analysis and Policies, Amsterdam, 1975.
Wilensky, H. L.,The Welfare State and Equality, Berkeley, Cal., 1975.
Wolfson, D. J.,Public Finance and Development Strategy, Baltimore, 1979.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wolfson, D.J. Pen and tinbergen on income distribution: A review article. De Economist 127, 446–458 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02384156
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02384156