A model of income distribution

B-Tier
Journal: European Economic Review
Year: 1982
Volume: 17
Issue: 3
Pages: 279-294

Authors (2)

Pestieau, Pierre (Université de Liège) Possen, Uri M. (not in RePEc)

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

The paper presents a model of income distribution that makes use of Gibrat's law of proportionate effect to explain the way income is distributed and how the distribution changes over time in a population made of families characterized by a specific life cycle and initial endowment. The stochastic factor in each period is shown to be the result of deliberate choices by individual decision-makers regarding their savings, investment, and bequests given their inherited wealth and natural ability. The source of randomness is two-fold: uncertainty about the rates of return and randomness of the distribution of natural skills.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:eecrev:v:17:y:1982:i:3:p:279-294
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29