Exploitation, skills, and inequality

2019/04/03 by Jonathan F. Cogliano, Roberto Veneziani, Naoki Yoshihara · 1 voice · 2 citations
Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Social Sciences · #Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth #Economic theories and models #Income, Poverty, and Inequality

paper · doi:10.1080/00346764.2019.1596296

openalex publication_date 2019/04/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22

Abstract

This paper uses a computational framework to analyse the equilibrium dynamics of exploitation and inequality in accumulation economies with heterogeneous labour. A novel index is presented which measures the intensity of exploitation at the individual level and the dynamics of the distribution of exploitation intensity is analysed. Various taxation schemes are analysed which may reduce exploitation or inequalities in income and wealth. It is shown that relatively small taxation rates may have significant cumulative effects on wealth and income inequalities. Further, taxation schemes that eliminate exploitation also reduce disparities in income and wealth but in the presence of heterogeneous skills, do not necessarily eliminate them. The inegalitarian effects of different abilities need to be tackled with a progressive education policy that compensates for unfavourable circumstances.

Citations

• The Dynamics of Exploitation and Class in Accumulation Economies

Cited by

• The dynamics of international exploitation
• Marx’s equalised rate of exploitation

Discussions

• We can also study how policy (or tax) interventions with different aims affect different facets of inequality and exploitation, as we did in a paper in the Review of Social Economy: doi.org/10.1080/00 [bsky, 0 points, 1 comments]