Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

A neoclassical Kaldor model of real wage declines

  • Published:
The Journal of Economic Inequality Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A model linking macroeconomic equilibrium and income distribution in balanced growth equilibria is developed as a variant to the Kaldor model of factor shares. It departs from the original Kaldor model in assuming equal saving rates and a neoclassical production function. Macroeconomic equilibrium (national savings equal to investment) combines with competitive microeconomic behavior to determine the real wage and real interest rate. An increase in the ratio of national debt to labor reduces the real wage, explaining recent declines.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Alesina, A. and Rodrik, D.: Distributive politics and economic growth, Quarterly Journal of Economics 109(2) (1994), 465–490.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Barro, R.J.: Are government bonds net wealth?, J. Political Economy 82(6) (1974), 1095–1117.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bernheim, B.D.: Ricardian equivalence: An evaluation of theory and evidence, NBER Macroeconomics Annual 2 (1987), 263–303.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bernheim, B.D., Shleifer, A. and Summers, L.H.: The strategic bequest motive, J. Political Economy 93(6) (1985), 1045–1076.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bertola, G.: Factor shares and savings in endogenous growth, American Economic Review 83(5) (1993), 1184–1198.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bertola, G.: Macroeconomics of distribution and growth, In: A.B. Atkinson and F. Bourguignon (eds.), Handbook of Income Distribution, Vol. 1, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2000, Chapter 9, pp. 477–540.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Blanchard, O.J.: Debt, deficits, and finite horizons, J. Political Economy 93(2) (1985), 223–247.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Blanchard, O.J. and Fischer, S.: Lectures on Macroeconomics, MIT Press, Cambridge, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Blundell, R. and MaCurdy, T.: Labor supply: A review of alternative approaches, In: O. Ashenfelter and D. Card (eds.), Handbook of Labor Economics, Vol. 3A, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1999, Chapter 27, pp. 1559–1695.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Bronfenbrenner, M.: Income Distribution Theory, Aldine, Chicago, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Ferguson, C.E.: The Neoclassical Theory of Production and Distribution, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Iyoda, M.: Profits, Wages, and Productivity in the Business Cycle: A Kaldorian Analysis, Kluwer Academic Publishers, London, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kaldor, N.: Alternative theories of distribution, Review of Economic Studies 23 (1955–1956), 83–100.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kaldor, N.: A model of economic growth, Economic Journal 67 (1957), 591–624.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Katz, L.F. and Autor, D.H.: Changes in the wage structure and earnings inequality, In: O. Ashenfelter and D. Card (eds.), Handbook of Labor Economics, Vol. 3A, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1999, Chapter 26, pp. 1463–1555.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Krueger, A.: Measuring labor’s share, American Economic Review Papers and Proceedings 89(2) (1999), 45–51.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Krusell, P. and Smith, A.A., Jr.: Income and wealth heterogeneity in the macroeconomy, J. Political Economy 106(5) (1998), 867–896.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Pasinetti, L.: Rate of profit and income distribution in relation to the rate of economic growth, Review of Economic Studies XXIX (1962), 267–279.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Patinkin, D.: Money, Interest and Prices, 2nd edn, Harper & Row, New York, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Rothschild, K.W.: Employment, Wages and Income Distribution, Routledge, London, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Sattinger, M.: Introduction, In: M. Sattinger (ed.), Income Distribution, Vol. I, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Skott, P.: Kaldor’s Growth and Distribution Theory, Peter Lang Verlag, Berlin, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Skott, P.: Conflict and Effective Demand in Economic Growth, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Tobin, J.: Growth and distribution: a neoclassical Kaldor–Robinson exercise, Cambridge Journal of Economics 13 (1989), 37–45.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Weil, P.: Permanent budget deficits and inflation, J. of Monetary Economics 20(2) (1987), 393–410.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Sattinger.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sattinger, M. A neoclassical Kaldor model of real wage declines. J Econ Inequal 3, 91–108 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10888-005-1088-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10888-005-1088-5

Keywords

Navigation