Income Inequality and Redistributive Spending: Evidence from Panel Data of Texas Counties

Abstract

The relationship between redistributive spending and income inequality has been of interest to researchers for several decades. Existing literature has largely focused on country-level studies and may be broadly divided into two groups: studies that find a positive relationship between the two and studies that find a negative relationship. The positive association is usually explained through the median voter theory and the negative association through the social insurance theory.

This study offers a test of the median voter and social insurance hypotheses by examining the relationship between economic inequality, voter turnout and redistributive spending at the sub-national level among the 50 largest counties in Texas over years 2006 to 2012. One of the advantages of using a regional sample is that counties are relatively more homogeneous and allow for the collection of better records across time. Random effects models suggest that income inequality is positively associated with redistributive spending. The study improves our understanding of the patterns of redistribution at the sub-national level and highlights the importance of careful inter-temporal modelling of relationships between redistributive spending and inequality.     

Income inequality and election outcomes in OECD countries: New evidence following the Great Recession of 2008–2009

Using data on national parliamentary election outcomes in 32 OECD countries from 1975 to 2013, we investigate the importance of economic voting. We focus on the relevance of income inequality which has resurfaced to the forefront of public debate since the last global economic downturn. Additionally, we examine whether the degree of economic voting varies with the political orientation of the incumbent government. Finally, we check whether the Great Recession of 2008–2009 alters the degree to which voters hold the incumbent government, specifically left parties, responsible for poor economic performance and rising inequality. We find that economic growth is the most robust variable for economic voting, before and after the Great Recession. The vote share for left-leaning parties declines when income inequality rises during normal economic times. However, voters are more likely to vote for left-wing incumbents if domestic income inequality and unemployment rate rose during the Great Recession.     

中国“高储蓄现象”的部门分析:1952～2008

本文测算了1952～2008年中国居民、政府与企业三部门的储蓄率并分析了各部门储蓄率的变化及其原因。本文的研究发现:(1)经历了一个较长的下降周期后政府储蓄率在国民储蓄中的地位已经居于居民储蓄与企业储蓄之后。政府储蓄率的下降一方面源自政府在国民收入中的比重下降,另一方面源自政府储蓄倾向降低,这与市场化改革导致的国民收入分配结构变化与政府的职能变化密切相连。(2)上世纪80年代中期后随着企业体制改革的深化,预算软约束逐步硬化,买方市场逐步形成,企业的效益有了明显改善,企业可支配收入在国民可支配收入中所占比重加大,因而企业储蓄在国民储蓄中的比重不断提高。(3)改革开放后,居民收入迅速增长与储蓄倾向上升推动中国居民储蓄率走高。企业与居民储蓄率的上升是中国储蓄在高位持续的原因。     

茯苓不同部位16种元素分布规律研究

目的 测定茯苓的白茯苓、赤茯苓及茯苓皮3个部位的16种微量元素含量,分析茯苓不同部位元素分布规律.方法 采用微波消解-电感耦合等离子体质谱测定茯苓不同部位16种元素的含量,并对其进行非参数检验、因子分析及相关性分析.结果 大部分元素在茯苓皮中含量较高;不同部位中V、Cr、Mn、Fe、Zn、Rb、Sr、Mo、Cd、Cs、Ba、Pb元素含量差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05),Co、Ni、Cu、As含量差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);Cu、Cd、Zn、Ba元素是茯苓3个部位的特征性元素;大多数元素含量之间存在正相关关系(P<0.05).结论 茯苓不同部位对不同元素的吸收具有一定的选择性,不同部位的元素之间存在相关性.     

论社会主义和谐社会的经济基础

构建社会主义和谐社会,就必须有坚实的经济基础。而社会主义公有制、按劳分配和共同富裕,既是我们所必须坚持的社会主义根本原则,又是社会主义和谐社会赖以建立和发展的基础。只要我们坚持公有制和按劳分配的主体地位,坚持共同富裕的社会主义方向,就一定能为社会主义和谐社会奠定坚实的经济基础。