Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

An alternative test of Kuznets’ hypothesis

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

Abstract

This paper uses a novel approach for testing Kuznets’ hypothesis. Following Kuznets’ original insights, we test for an inverted U relationship between employment outside agriculture and income inequality, instead of the traditional focus on GDP per capita and income inequality. Our results, obtained using panel and country by country regressions, do not support Kuznets’ hypothesis.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Anand, S., Kanbur, S.M.R.: The Kuznets process and the inequality-development relationship. J. Dev. Econ. 40, 25–52 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Angeles, L.: A Proper Farewell to Kuznets’ Hypothesis. Department of Economics, University of Glasgow, Discussion Paper 2007–15 (2007)

  3. Atkinson, T., Brandolini, A.: Promise and pitfalls in the use of ‘secondary data sets’: income inequality in OCED countries as a case study. J. Econ. Lit. 39, 771–799 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Barro, R.J.: Inequality and growth in a panel of countries. J. Econ. Growth 5(1), 5–32 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Deininger, K., Squire, L.: Measuring income inequality: a new data base. The World Bank Economic Review 10, 565–591 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Deininger, K., Squire, L.: New ways of looking at old issues: inequality and growth. J. Dev. Econ. 57, 259–287 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Fields, G.S.: Growth and income distribution. In: Psacharopoulos, G. (ed.) Essays on Poverty, Equity and Growth. Pergamon, Oxford (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Fields, G.S.: Distribution and Development. MIT, Cambridge (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Frazer, G.: Inequality and development across and within countries. World Dev. 34(9), 1459–1481 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Higgins, M., Williamson, J.G.: Explaining inequality the world round: cohort size, Kuznets curves and openness, NBER Working Paper N. 7224 (1999)

  11. Kuznets, S.: Economic growth and income inequality. Am. Econ. Rev. 45(1), 1–28 (1955)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Li, H., Squire, L., Zou, H.: Explaining international and intertemporal variations in income inequality. Econ. J. 108, 26–43 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Matyas, L., Konya, L., Macquarie, L.: The Kuznets U-curve hypothesis: some panel data evidence. Appl. Econ. Lett. 5, 693–697 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Robinson, S.: A note on the U hypothesis relating income inequality and economic development. Am. Econ. Rev. 66, 437–440 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics, University of Glasgow, Adam Smith Building, Glasgow, G12 8RT, UK

    Luis Angeles

Authors
  1. Luis Angeles
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luis Angeles.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Angeles, L. An alternative test of Kuznets’ hypothesis. J Econ Inequal 8, 463–473 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10888-009-9117-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10888-009-9117-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation