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Making sense of Piketty’s ‘fundamental laws’ in a Post-Keynesian framework

Author

Listed:
  • Stefan Ederer

    (Austrian Institute of Economic Research (AT))

  • Miriam Rehm
Abstract
Piketty’s main theoretical prediction is that a small elite will own all wealth if capitalism is left to its own devices. We formulate and calibrate a Post-Keynesian model with an endogenous distribution of wealth between workers and capitalists. The model permits Piketty’s corner solution of all wealth held by capitalists; however, it also shows that interior solutions with a stable, non-zero wealth share of workers, a stable wealth-to-income ratio, and a stable and positive gap between the profit and the growth rate determined by the Cambridge equation. Furthermore, simulations show that the model conforms to Piketty’s empirical findings in a transitional phase, in which the wealth share of capitalists rises to over 60%, the wealth-to-income ratio increases, and income inequality rises. Finally, we show that the introduction of a wealth tax as suggested by Piketty could neutralize the rise in wealth concentration.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan Ederer & Miriam Rehm, 2018. "Making sense of Piketty’s ‘fundamental laws’ in a Post-Keynesian framework," Working Papers PKWP1808, Post Keynesian Economics Society (PKES).
    • Handle: RePEc:pke:wpaper:pkwp1808
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    File URL: https://www.postkeynesian.net/downloads/working-papers/PKWP1808_1BcTTCs.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2018
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Stefan Ederer & Maximilian Mayerhofer & Miriam Rehm, 2021. "Rich and ever richer? Differential returns across socioeconomic groups," Journal of Post Keynesian Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(2), pages 283-301, April.
    2. Stefan Ederer & Miriam Rehm, 2021. "Wealth inequality and aggregate demand," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 72(2), pages 405-424, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Post-Keynesian; model; wealth; saving; inequality; Piketty; simulation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C63 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computational Techniques
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • E12 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - Keynes; Keynesian; Post-Keynesian; Modern Monetary Theory
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth

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