Government Effects on the Distribution of Income: An Overview

The Levy Economics Institute Working Paper No. 442

16 Pages Posted: 27 Feb 2006 Last revised: 13 Apr 2011

Date Written: February 1, 2006

Abstract

This paper is the overview chapter of an edited volume on "The Distributional Effects of Government Spending and Taxation." The paper offers the author's perspective on the government's role as a redistributive agent. Taxation and public spending programs are analyzed using the experiences of the United States and other OECD countries. The stark differences among the respective welfare systems are examined from an economic policy lens assessing the success and failure of the tested social policy programs. The measurement and distribution of well-being for special segments of the population, i.e., the elderly and women, are considered.

Keywords: Welfare programs, redistributive policies, public spending and taxation, income and wealth distribution, public provisioning, well-being, retirement policies

JEL Classification: H53, I38, D31, J26

Suggested Citation

Papadimitriou, Dimitri B., Government Effects on the Distribution of Income: An Overview (February 1, 2006). The Levy Economics Institute Working Paper No. 442, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=885511 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.885511

Dimitri B. Papadimitriou (Contact Author)

Bard College - Levy Economics Institute ( email )

Blithewood
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504
United States
845-758 7711 (Phone)
845-758 9424 (Fax)

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