Inequality and Markets: Some Implications of Occupational Diversity

B-Tier
Journal: American Economic Journal: Microeconomics
Year: 2010
Volume: 2
Issue: 4
Pages: 38-76

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This paper studies income distribution in an economy with borrowing constraints. Parents leave both financial and educational bequests; these determine the occupational choices of children. Occupational returns are determined by market conditions. If the span of occupational investments is large, long-run wealth distributions display persistent inequality. With a "rich" set of occupations, so that training costs form an interval, the distribution is unique and the average return to education must rise with educational investment. This finding contrasts with the usual presumption of diminishing returns to human capital. It is the central testable proposition of this paper. (JEL D14, D31, J24)

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aejmic:v:2:y:2010:i:4:p:38-76
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-26