Finance and inequality : Theory and evidence

This paper critically reviews the literature on finance and inequality, highlighting substantive gaps in the literature. Finance plays a crucial role in most theories of persistent inequality. Unsurprisingly, therefore, economic theory provides a r...

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Main Authors: Demirgüç-Kunt, Asli, Levine, Ross
Format: Policy Research Working Paper
Language:English
Published: 2012
Subjects:
GDP
Online Access:http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20090618110843
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/4161
id okr-10986-4161
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
topic ACCESS TO CREDIT
ACCESS TO EXTERNAL FINANCE
ACCESS TO FINANCE
ACCESS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES
ADVERSE SELECTION
ANNUAL EARNINGS
BANK BRANCHES
BANK COMPETITION
BANKING SERVICES
BANKING SYSTEM
BANKING SYSTEMS
BANKS
BEQUEST
BIASES
BLACK WORKERS
BORROWER
BORROWING
BUSINESS ACUMEN
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
CAPITAL ACCUMULATION
CAPITAL INVESTMENT
CAPITAL INVESTMENTS
CAPITAL MARKETS
CASH FLOW
COLLATERAL
COMMERCIAL BANK
COMMERCIAL BANKS
CONSUMERS
CONTRIBUTIONS
CREDIT CONSTRAINTS
CREDIT MARKET
CREDIT MARKETS
CREDIT PROGRAM
CREDIT PROGRAMS
CREDIT RATIONING
CREDIT-SCORING
DEBTS
DEPOSIT
DEREGULATION
DIMINISHING RETURNS
DIRECT CREDIT
DIRECTED CREDIT
DISCRIMINATION
DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH
DIVERSIFICATION
DURABLE GOODS
EARNINGS
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
ECONOMIC OUTCOMES
ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
ECONOMIC THEORY
ECONOMIES OF SCALE
ELIGIBILITY CRITERION
EMPLOYER
EMPLOYERS
ENDOWMENTS
ENROLLMENT
ENTREPRENEUR
ENTREPRENEURIAL ABILITY
ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITIES
ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY
ENTREPRENEURIAL BEHAVIOR
ENTREPRENEURIAL EFFORT
ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES
ENTREPRENEURS
ENTRY BARRIERS
EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY
EQUILIBRIUM
EXPECTED RETURN
EXPENDITURES
EXTERNAL FINANCE
EXTERNALITIES
EXTERNALITY
FAMILIES
FAMILY INCOME
FINANCE EDUCATION
FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS
FINANCIAL CONSTRAINT
FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS
FINANCIAL DEPTH
FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT
FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
FINANCIAL GLOBALIZATION
FINANCIAL INNOVATION
FINANCIAL INNOVATIONS
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION
FINANCIAL LIBERALIZATION
FINANCIAL MARKET
FINANCIAL MARKETS
FINANCIAL REGULATIONS
FINANCIAL SECTOR POLICIES
FINANCIAL SECTOR REFORMS
FINANCIAL SERVICES
FINANCIAL SYSTEM
FINANCIAL SYSTEMS
FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS
FINANCING NEEDS
FIXED COST
FIXED COSTS
FORMAL FINANCIAL SECTOR
FUTURE RESEARCH
GDP
GDP PER CAPITA
GINI COEFFICIENT
GREATER ACCESS
GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES
GROWTH RATE
HOUSEHOLD ACCESS
HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURES
HOUSEHOLD WELFARE
HOUSEHOLDS
HUMAN CAPITAL
IMPERFECT CREDIT
INCOME LEVEL
INCOME LEVELS
INCOMES
INCREASE IN INCOME
INEFFICIENCY
INEQUALITIES
INEQUALITY
INHERITANCE
INTEREST RATES
INTERNATIONAL BANK
INTERNATIONAL FINANCE
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
INVESTMENT RETURNS
LABOR MARKET
LABOR MARKETS
LACK OF ACCESS
LANDLESS HOUSEHOLDS
LENDER
LENDERS
LEVEL OF ASSETS
LIABILITY
LIMITED ACCESS
LIMITED ACCESS TO FINANCE
LIQUIDITY
LOAN
LOAN DECISION
LOCAL BANKS
LORENZ CURVE
LOW INCOME
LOW-INCOME
LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS
LOWER-INCOME FAMILIES
LOWER-INCOME WORKERS
MARGINAL COST
MARGINAL PROPENSITY TO SAVE
MARKET CONDITIONS
MARKET CONSTRAINTS
MICRO-CREDIT
MICRO-ENTERPRISES
MICRO-ENTREPRENEURS
MICROCREDIT
MICROECONOMIC ANALYSES
MICROFINANCE
MICROFINANCE INSTITUTION
MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS
MICROFINANCE LOANS
MONOPOLY
MORAL HAZARD
NEW BUSINESSES
NEW ENTREPRENEURS
OVERHEAD COSTS
PER CAPITA INCOME
PHYSICAL ASSETS
PHYSICAL CAPITAL
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POOR BORROWERS
PROBABILITY
PRODUCT MARKETS
PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES
PROFITABILITY
PROPERTY RIGHTS
PUBLIC EDUCATION
PUBLIC GOODS
RATE OF RETURN
RATES OF RETURN
RECEIPT
RENTS
REPAYMENT
RESERVE BANK
RESOURCE ALLOCATION
RURAL BRANCHES
SALES
SAVERS
SAVING BEHAVIOR
SAVINGS
SAVINGS BEHAVIOR
SAVINGS RATE
SAVINGS RATES
SECURITIES
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
SKILLED WORKERS
SMALL BUSINESS
SMALL BUSINESSES
SMALL ENTERPRISES
START-UP
TAX BURDEN
TAX RATE
TAX RATES
TAX REVENUES
TOTAL OUTPUT
TRANSACTION
TRANSACTION COSTS
TRANSACTIONS COSTS
TRANSITION ECONOMIES
VALUABLE
VILLAGE
VILLAGES
WAGE
WAGE RATES
WAGES
WEALTH
spellingShingle ACCESS TO CREDIT
ACCESS TO EXTERNAL FINANCE
ACCESS TO FINANCE
ACCESS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES
ADVERSE SELECTION
ANNUAL EARNINGS
BANK BRANCHES
BANK COMPETITION
BANKING SERVICES
BANKING SYSTEM
BANKING SYSTEMS
BANKS
BEQUEST
BIASES
BLACK WORKERS
BORROWER
BORROWING
BUSINESS ACUMEN
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
CAPITAL ACCUMULATION
CAPITAL INVESTMENT
CAPITAL INVESTMENTS
CAPITAL MARKETS
CASH FLOW
COLLATERAL
COMMERCIAL BANK
COMMERCIAL BANKS
CONSUMERS
CONTRIBUTIONS
CREDIT CONSTRAINTS
CREDIT MARKET
CREDIT MARKETS
CREDIT PROGRAM
CREDIT PROGRAMS
CREDIT RATIONING
CREDIT-SCORING
DEBTS
DEPOSIT
DEREGULATION
DIMINISHING RETURNS
DIRECT CREDIT
DIRECTED CREDIT
DISCRIMINATION
DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH
DIVERSIFICATION
DURABLE GOODS
EARNINGS
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
ECONOMIC OUTCOMES
ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
ECONOMIC THEORY
ECONOMIES OF SCALE
ELIGIBILITY CRITERION
EMPLOYER
EMPLOYERS
ENDOWMENTS
ENROLLMENT
ENTREPRENEUR
ENTREPRENEURIAL ABILITY
ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITIES
ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY
ENTREPRENEURIAL BEHAVIOR
ENTREPRENEURIAL EFFORT
ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES
ENTREPRENEURS
ENTRY BARRIERS
EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY
EQUILIBRIUM
EXPECTED RETURN
EXPENDITURES
EXTERNAL FINANCE
EXTERNALITIES
EXTERNALITY
FAMILIES
FAMILY INCOME
FINANCE EDUCATION
FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS
FINANCIAL CONSTRAINT
FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS
FINANCIAL DEPTH
FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT
FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
FINANCIAL GLOBALIZATION
FINANCIAL INNOVATION
FINANCIAL INNOVATIONS
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION
FINANCIAL LIBERALIZATION
FINANCIAL MARKET
FINANCIAL MARKETS
FINANCIAL REGULATIONS
FINANCIAL SECTOR POLICIES
FINANCIAL SECTOR REFORMS
FINANCIAL SERVICES
FINANCIAL SYSTEM
FINANCIAL SYSTEMS
FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS
FINANCING NEEDS
FIXED COST
FIXED COSTS
FORMAL FINANCIAL SECTOR
FUTURE RESEARCH
GDP
GDP PER CAPITA
GINI COEFFICIENT
GREATER ACCESS
GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES
GROWTH RATE
HOUSEHOLD ACCESS
HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURES
HOUSEHOLD WELFARE
HOUSEHOLDS
HUMAN CAPITAL
IMPERFECT CREDIT
INCOME LEVEL
INCOME LEVELS
INCOMES
INCREASE IN INCOME
INEFFICIENCY
INEQUALITIES
INEQUALITY
INHERITANCE
INTEREST RATES
INTERNATIONAL BANK
INTERNATIONAL FINANCE
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
INVESTMENT RETURNS
LABOR MARKET
LABOR MARKETS
LACK OF ACCESS
LANDLESS HOUSEHOLDS
LENDER
LENDERS
LEVEL OF ASSETS
LIABILITY
LIMITED ACCESS
LIMITED ACCESS TO FINANCE
LIQUIDITY
LOAN
LOAN DECISION
LOCAL BANKS
LORENZ CURVE
LOW INCOME
LOW-INCOME
LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS
LOWER-INCOME FAMILIES
LOWER-INCOME WORKERS
MARGINAL COST
MARGINAL PROPENSITY TO SAVE
MARKET CONDITIONS
MARKET CONSTRAINTS
MICRO-CREDIT
MICRO-ENTERPRISES
MICRO-ENTREPRENEURS
MICROCREDIT
MICROECONOMIC ANALYSES
MICROFINANCE
MICROFINANCE INSTITUTION
MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS
MICROFINANCE LOANS
MONOPOLY
MORAL HAZARD
NEW BUSINESSES
NEW ENTREPRENEURS
OVERHEAD COSTS
PER CAPITA INCOME
PHYSICAL ASSETS
PHYSICAL CAPITAL
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POOR BORROWERS
PROBABILITY
PRODUCT MARKETS
PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES
PROFITABILITY
PROPERTY RIGHTS
PUBLIC EDUCATION
PUBLIC GOODS
RATE OF RETURN
RATES OF RETURN
RECEIPT
RENTS
REPAYMENT
RESERVE BANK
RESOURCE ALLOCATION
RURAL BRANCHES
SALES
SAVERS
SAVING BEHAVIOR
SAVINGS
SAVINGS BEHAVIOR
SAVINGS RATE
SAVINGS RATES
SECURITIES
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
SKILLED WORKERS
SMALL BUSINESS
SMALL BUSINESSES
SMALL ENTERPRISES
START-UP
TAX BURDEN
TAX RATE
TAX RATES
TAX REVENUES
TOTAL OUTPUT
TRANSACTION
TRANSACTION COSTS
TRANSACTIONS COSTS
TRANSITION ECONOMIES
VALUABLE
VILLAGE
VILLAGES
WAGE
WAGE RATES
WAGES
WEALTH
Demirgüç-Kunt, Asli
Levine, Ross
Finance and inequality : Theory and evidence
relation Policy Research Working Paper ; No. 4967
description This paper critically reviews the literature on finance and inequality, highlighting substantive gaps in the literature. Finance plays a crucial role in most theories of persistent inequality. Unsurprisingly, therefore, economic theory provides a rich set of predictions concerning both the impact of finance on inequality and about the relevant mechanisms. Although subject to ample qualifications, the bulk of empirical research suggests that improvements in financial contracts, markets, and intermediaries expand economic opportunities and reduce inequality. Yet, there is a shortage of theoretical and empirical research on the potentially enormous impact of formal financial sector policies, such as bank regulations and securities law, on persistent inequality. Furthermore, there is no conceptual framework for considering the joint and endogenous evolution of finance, inequality, and economic growth.
format Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
author Demirgüç-Kunt, Asli
Levine, Ross
author_facet Demirgüç-Kunt, Asli
Levine, Ross
author_sort Demirgüç-Kunt, Asli
title Finance and inequality : Theory and evidence
title_short Finance and inequality : Theory and evidence
title_full Finance and inequality : Theory and evidence
title_fullStr Finance and inequality : Theory and evidence
title_full_unstemmed Finance and inequality : Theory and evidence
title_sort finance and inequality : theory and evidence
publishDate 2012
url http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20090618110843
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/4161
_version_ 1764390206747705344
spelling okr-10986-41612021-04-23T14:02:15Z Finance and inequality : Theory and evidence Demirgüç-Kunt, Asli Levine, Ross ACCESS TO CREDIT ACCESS TO EXTERNAL FINANCE ACCESS TO FINANCE ACCESS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES ADVERSE SELECTION ANNUAL EARNINGS BANK BRANCHES BANK COMPETITION BANKING SERVICES BANKING SYSTEM BANKING SYSTEMS BANKS BEQUEST BIASES BLACK WORKERS BORROWER BORROWING BUSINESS ACUMEN BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES CAPITAL ACCUMULATION CAPITAL INVESTMENT CAPITAL INVESTMENTS CAPITAL MARKETS CASH FLOW COLLATERAL COMMERCIAL BANK COMMERCIAL BANKS CONSUMERS CONTRIBUTIONS CREDIT CONSTRAINTS CREDIT MARKET CREDIT MARKETS CREDIT PROGRAM CREDIT PROGRAMS CREDIT RATIONING CREDIT-SCORING DEBTS DEPOSIT DEREGULATION DIMINISHING RETURNS DIRECT CREDIT DIRECTED CREDIT DISCRIMINATION DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH DIVERSIFICATION DURABLE GOODS EARNINGS ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ECONOMIC OUTCOMES ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE ECONOMIC THEORY ECONOMIES OF SCALE ELIGIBILITY CRITERION EMPLOYER EMPLOYERS ENDOWMENTS ENROLLMENT ENTREPRENEUR ENTREPRENEURIAL ABILITY ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITIES ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY ENTREPRENEURIAL BEHAVIOR ENTREPRENEURIAL EFFORT ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES ENTREPRENEURS ENTRY BARRIERS EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY EQUILIBRIUM EXPECTED RETURN EXPENDITURES EXTERNAL FINANCE EXTERNALITIES EXTERNALITY FAMILIES FAMILY INCOME FINANCE EDUCATION FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS FINANCIAL CONSTRAINT FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS FINANCIAL DEPTH FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENTS FINANCIAL GLOBALIZATION FINANCIAL INNOVATION FINANCIAL INNOVATIONS FINANCIAL INSTITUTION FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION FINANCIAL LIBERALIZATION FINANCIAL MARKET FINANCIAL MARKETS FINANCIAL REGULATIONS FINANCIAL SECTOR POLICIES FINANCIAL SECTOR REFORMS FINANCIAL SERVICES FINANCIAL SYSTEM FINANCIAL SYSTEMS FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS FINANCING NEEDS FIXED COST FIXED COSTS FORMAL FINANCIAL SECTOR FUTURE RESEARCH GDP GDP PER CAPITA GINI COEFFICIENT GREATER ACCESS GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES GROWTH RATE HOUSEHOLD ACCESS HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURES HOUSEHOLD WELFARE HOUSEHOLDS HUMAN CAPITAL IMPERFECT CREDIT INCOME LEVEL INCOME LEVELS INCOMES INCREASE IN INCOME INEFFICIENCY INEQUALITIES INEQUALITY INHERITANCE INTEREST RATES INTERNATIONAL BANK INTERNATIONAL FINANCE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES INVESTMENT RETURNS LABOR MARKET LABOR MARKETS LACK OF ACCESS LANDLESS HOUSEHOLDS LENDER LENDERS LEVEL OF ASSETS LIABILITY LIMITED ACCESS LIMITED ACCESS TO FINANCE LIQUIDITY LOAN LOAN DECISION LOCAL BANKS LORENZ CURVE LOW INCOME LOW-INCOME LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS LOWER-INCOME FAMILIES LOWER-INCOME WORKERS MARGINAL COST MARGINAL PROPENSITY TO SAVE MARKET CONDITIONS MARKET CONSTRAINTS MICRO-CREDIT MICRO-ENTERPRISES MICRO-ENTREPRENEURS MICROCREDIT MICROECONOMIC ANALYSES MICROFINANCE MICROFINANCE INSTITUTION MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS MICROFINANCE LOANS MONOPOLY MORAL HAZARD NEW BUSINESSES NEW ENTREPRENEURS OVERHEAD COSTS PER CAPITA INCOME PHYSICAL ASSETS PHYSICAL CAPITAL POLITICAL ECONOMY POOR BORROWERS PROBABILITY PRODUCT MARKETS PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES PROFITABILITY PROPERTY RIGHTS PUBLIC EDUCATION PUBLIC GOODS RATE OF RETURN RATES OF RETURN RECEIPT RENTS REPAYMENT RESERVE BANK RESOURCE ALLOCATION RURAL BRANCHES SALES SAVERS SAVING BEHAVIOR SAVINGS SAVINGS BEHAVIOR SAVINGS RATE SAVINGS RATES SECURITIES SELF-EMPLOYMENT SKILLED WORKERS SMALL BUSINESS SMALL BUSINESSES SMALL ENTERPRISES START-UP TAX BURDEN TAX RATE TAX RATES TAX REVENUES TOTAL OUTPUT TRANSACTION TRANSACTION COSTS TRANSACTIONS COSTS TRANSITION ECONOMIES VALUABLE VILLAGE VILLAGES WAGE WAGE RATES WAGES WEALTH This paper critically reviews the literature on finance and inequality, highlighting substantive gaps in the literature. Finance plays a crucial role in most theories of persistent inequality. Unsurprisingly, therefore, economic theory provides a rich set of predictions concerning both the impact of finance on inequality and about the relevant mechanisms. Although subject to ample qualifications, the bulk of empirical research suggests that improvements in financial contracts, markets, and intermediaries expand economic opportunities and reduce inequality. Yet, there is a shortage of theoretical and empirical research on the potentially enormous impact of formal financial sector policies, such as bank regulations and securities law, on persistent inequality. Furthermore, there is no conceptual framework for considering the joint and endogenous evolution of finance, inequality, and economic growth. 2012-03-19T19:11:00Z 2012-03-19T19:11:00Z 2009-06-01 http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20090618110843 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/4161 English Policy Research Working Paper ; No. 4967 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper