Four mechanisms of income differentiation Cover Image

Čtyři mechanizmy příjmové diferenciace
Four mechanisms of income differentiation

Author(s): Luděk Rychetník
Subject(s): Economy
Published by: Univerzita Karlova v Praze - Institut ekonomických studií
Keywords: system legitimacy; inequality; economic rent; governance and anti-corruption

Summary/Abstract: This paper describes four mechanisms of income differentiation which generate inequalities both at national and international levels. They are: (i) Increasing returns to scale, (ii) cost of capital (interest) hidden in prices, (iii) economic rent derived from scarce natural resources, and (iv) exploitative state and private structures. Only the third and fourth mechanisms have been analyzed as they generate inequities, ie. inequalities which can be considered as unfair. It is argued that the effect of the third mechanism can be moderated by taxation paid from the rent. The fourth mechanism disrupts governance and economic activities in many developing countries and adversely affects the post communist states as well. International institutions as the World Bank pay increasing attention to it through their Governance and Anti-Corruption programmes. However a substantial improvement can be achieved by consistent effort of domestic forces in each country.

  • Issue Year: 1/2007
  • Issue No: 02
  • Page Range: 155-179
  • Page Count: 25
  • Language: Czech