Inequality and Innovativeness

Abstract

In this note, we construct two theoretical models that analyze the relationship between inequality of access and rates of innovation as well as correlative data that show a negative correlation between income inequality and levels of innovativeness. Our two models suggest that unequal access to problems slows innovation by reducing the level and variety of human capital applied to problems. More interestingly, both models show that the rate of innovation decline becomes much more pronounced as problems become more difficult. Thus, the costs of inequality may be increasing as the problems that societies face become more challenging.

Keywords: Inequality, Innovation

JEL Classification: D83, D31