IMF "부의 '낙수 효과', 완전히 틀린 논리" / Causes and Consequences of Income Inequality

1. 기사

http://media.daum.net/economic/all/newsview?newsid=20150616104908954&RIGHT_COMM=R1

 

 

IMF는 5명의 소속 경제학자가 작성해 공개한 전략정책평가국 보고서에서 150여 개국 사례를 분석한 결과, 상위 20% 계층의 소득이 1%포인트 증가하면 이후 5년의 성장이 연평균 0.08%포인트 감소하는 것으로 분석됐다고 전했습니다.

반면, 하위 20%의 소득이 1%포인트 늘어나면 같은 기간의 성장이 연평균 0.38%포인트 확대되는 것으로 나타났다고 덧붙였습니다.

보고서는 "하위 계층의 소득을 늘리고, 중산층을 유지하는 것이 성장에 도움이 된다"며 "소득 불균형 확대가 성장과 거시 경제 안정에 심각한 충격을 준다"고 거듭 경고했습니다.

또 "저소득층을 쥐어짜는 것이 결국 노동 생산성 저하로 이어져 소득 불균형을 더욱 심각하게 만드는 악순환을 불가피하게 한다"고 강조했습니다.

2. 원문 발췌

Causes and Consequences of Income Inequality: A Global Perspective(IMF, 2015)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Widening income inequality is the defining challenge of our time. In advanced economies, the gap between the rich and poor is at its highest level in decades. Inequality trends have been more mixed in emerging markets and developing countries (EMDCsf), with some countries experiencing declining inequality, but pervasive inequities in access to education, health care, and finance remain. Not surprisingly then, the extent of inequality, its drivers, and what to do about it have become some of the most hotly debated issues by policymakers and researchers alike. Against this background, the objective of this paper is two-fold. 

First, we show why policymakers need to focus on the poor and the middle class. Earlier IMF work has shown that income inequality matters for growth and its sustainability. Our analysis suggests that the income distribution itself matters for growth as well. Specifically, if the income share of the top 20 percent (the rich) increases, then GDP growth actually declines over the medium term, suggesting that the benefits do not trickle down. In contrast, an increase in the income share of the bottom 20 percent (the poor) is associated with higher GDP growth. The poor and the middle class matter the most for growth via a number of interrelated economic, social, and political channels. 

Second, we investigate what explains the divergent trends in inequality developments across advanced economies and EMDCs, with a particular focus on the poor and the middle class. While most existing studies have focused on advanced countries and looked at the drivers of the Gini coefficient and the income of the rich, this study explores a more diverse group of countries and pays particular attention to the income shares of the poor and the middle class—the main engines of growth. Our analysis suggests that 

 Technological progress and the resulting rise in the skill premium (positives for growth and productivity) and the decline of some labor market institutions have contributed to inequality in both advanced economies and EMDCs. Globalization has played a smaller but reinforcing role. Interestingly, we find that rising skill premium is associated with widening income disparities in advanced countries, while financial deepening is associated with rising inequality in EMDCs, suggesting scope for policies that promote financial inclusion. 

 Policies that focus on the poor and the middle class can mitigate inequality. Irrespective of the level of economic development, better access to education and health care and well-targeted social policies, while ensuring that labor market institutions do not excessively penalize the poor, can help raise the income share for the poor and the middle class. 

 There is no one-size-fits-all approach to tackling inequality. The nature of appropriate policies depends on the underlying drivers and country-specific policy and institutional settings. In advanced economies, policies should focus on reforms to increase human capital and skills, coupled with making tax systems more progressive. In EMDCs, ensuring financial deepening is accompanied with greater financial inclusion and creating incentives for lowering informality would be important. More generally, complementarities between growth and income equality objectives suggest that policies aimed at raising average living standards can also influence the distribution of income and ensure a more inclusive prosperity.