Can innovation improve income inequality? evidence from panel data

Income inequality is a source of social instability and armed conflict, which in turn are detrimental to economic development. This study examines the role of innovation in income inequality in twenty-three developed countries, using a panel mean group estimator that takes cross-sectional dependence...

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Main Authors: Law, Siong Hook, Niaz Ahmad, Mohd Naseem, Lau, Wei Theng, Trinugroho, Irwan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2020
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/88077/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/88077/1/ABSTRACT.pdf
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author Law, Siong Hook
Niaz Ahmad, Mohd Naseem
Lau, Wei Theng
Trinugroho, Irwan
author_facet Law, Siong Hook
Niaz Ahmad, Mohd Naseem
Lau, Wei Theng
Trinugroho, Irwan
author_sort Law, Siong Hook
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Income inequality is a source of social instability and armed conflict, which in turn are detrimental to economic development. This study examines the role of innovation in income inequality in twenty-three developed countries, using a panel mean group estimator that takes cross-sectional dependence into consideration. Three income inequality indicators are used: the Standardized World Income Inequality Database (SWIID), the University of Texas Inequality Project (UTIP), and the Estimated Household Income Inequality (EHII). The innovation indicators are patent applications and patents granted. The empirical results based on the common correlated effect mean group (CCEMG) reveal that innovation widens income inequality. We also investigate whether the innovation–income inequality nexus is subject to a country’s level of globalization and financial development. The findings suggest that the interaction terms between innovation with these two variables have positive effects on income inequality, whereas innovation failed to reduce income inequality. Globalization and financial development are found to drive income inequality. The empirical results are robust to different income inequality and innovation measures as well as estimation techniques.
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spelling upm-880772022-05-18T04:04:59Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/88077/ Can innovation improve income inequality? evidence from panel data Law, Siong Hook Niaz Ahmad, Mohd Naseem Lau, Wei Theng Trinugroho, Irwan Income inequality is a source of social instability and armed conflict, which in turn are detrimental to economic development. This study examines the role of innovation in income inequality in twenty-three developed countries, using a panel mean group estimator that takes cross-sectional dependence into consideration. Three income inequality indicators are used: the Standardized World Income Inequality Database (SWIID), the University of Texas Inequality Project (UTIP), and the Estimated Household Income Inequality (EHII). The innovation indicators are patent applications and patents granted. The empirical results based on the common correlated effect mean group (CCEMG) reveal that innovation widens income inequality. We also investigate whether the innovation–income inequality nexus is subject to a country’s level of globalization and financial development. The findings suggest that the interaction terms between innovation with these two variables have positive effects on income inequality, whereas innovation failed to reduce income inequality. Globalization and financial development are found to drive income inequality. The empirical results are robust to different income inequality and innovation measures as well as estimation techniques. Elsevier 2020 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/88077/1/ABSTRACT.pdf Law, Siong Hook and Niaz Ahmad, Mohd Naseem and Lau, Wei Theng and Trinugroho, Irwan (2020) Can innovation improve income inequality? evidence from panel data. Economic Systems, 44 (4). art. no. 100815. pp. 1-18. ISSN 0939-3625 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0939362518305144 10.1016/j.ecosys.2020.100815
spellingShingle Law, Siong Hook
Niaz Ahmad, Mohd Naseem
Lau, Wei Theng
Trinugroho, Irwan
Can innovation improve income inequality? evidence from panel data
title Can innovation improve income inequality? evidence from panel data
title_full Can innovation improve income inequality? evidence from panel data
title_fullStr Can innovation improve income inequality? evidence from panel data
title_full_unstemmed Can innovation improve income inequality? evidence from panel data
title_short Can innovation improve income inequality? evidence from panel data
title_sort can innovation improve income inequality? evidence from panel data
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/88077/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/88077/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/88077/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/88077/1/ABSTRACT.pdf