What drives the long-term development of economiesand how does growth affect different segments of society?

This book redefines the theory of economic growth by moving beyond the traditional "average citizen" model. Instead, it introduces a dynamic framework that accounts for the diverse structure of real-world economies, dividing households into distinct groups based on income, consumption, and wealth.

Through rigorous modeling and analysis, the book explores how key factorssuch as the economic growth rate and the return on capitalshape not only the overall trajectory of an economy but also the fortunes of its individual household groups. It demonstrates that when the return on capital exceeds the growth rate, wealth concentration intensifiesa finding that aligns with Thomas Piketty's influential empirical research. This book will appeal to economists, policymakers, and anyone interested in the forces that shape prosperity and inequality in modern societies.

Presents models that capture the evolution of heterogeneous household groups over time Highlights the Gini coefficient as a measure of economic inequality Examines the relationship between capital returns and the redistribution of wealth

Autorentext

Jürgen Kremer is Professor of Mathematics at Koblenz University of Applied Sciences (Germany). He studied physics at the University of Bonn and completed his doctorate in mathematics at the Technical University of Berlin.

Klappentext

What drives the long-term development of economies—and how does growth affect different segments of society?

This book redefines the theory of economic growth by moving beyond the traditional "average citizen" model. Instead, it introduces a dynamic framework that accounts for the diverse structure of real-world economies, dividing households into distinct groups based on income, consumption, and wealth.

Through rigorous modeling and analysis, the book explores how key factors—such as the economic growth rate and the return on capital—shape not only the overall trajectory of an economy but also the fortunes of its individual household groups. It demonstrates that when the return on capital exceeds the growth rate, wealth concentration intensifies—a finding that aligns with Thomas Piketty’s influential empirical research. This book will appeal to economists, policymakers, and anyone interested in the forces that shape prosperity and inequality in modern societies.

Inhalt

Part I. Continuous-Time Circular Flow Models.- Chapter 1. Introduction: Standard Growth Models.- Chapter 2. The Circular Flow Model Without State.- Chapter 3. The Circular Flow Model with Constant Parameters.- Chapter 4. Lorenz Curves and Gini Coecients.- Part II. Discrete-Time Circular Flow Models.- Chapter 5. The Discretized Circular Flow Model.- Chapter 6. The Circular Flow Economy with Constant Parameters.- Chapter 7. Rules for the Discretized Circular Flow Model.- Chapter 8. The Circular Flow Model with State.