The Rich and the Great Recession
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Summary:
Most papers explaining the macro causes of the U.S. Great Recession focus on the behavior of the middle class: how its saving rate declined in the pre-crisis years, then surged following the crisis. This paper argues that the saving rate of the rich followed a similar pattern, the result of wealth effects associated with a boom-bust in asset prices. Indeed, the swings in saving by the rich must actually have played the most important role in the consumption boom-bust, since since the top 10 percent account for almost half of income and two-thirds of wealth. In other words, the rich played a critical role in the Great Recession.
Series:
Working Paper No. 2014/225
Subject:
Consumption Disposable income Income Income distribution Income inequality National accounts
English
Publication Date:
December 16, 2014
ISBN/ISSN:
9781498307376/1018-5941
Stock No:
WPIEA2014225
Pages:
36
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