Skip to main content
Log in

Subsidy policies with capital accumulation: Maintaining employment levels

  • Published:
Journal of Population Economics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We study a dual economy model of growth and unemployment in the presence of Harris-Todaro type labor migration. The model is a discrete time model of economic growth with given population but endogenous migration of labor. The economy tries to reach “development” in the quickest possible time while not allowing unemployment to rise above a ‘socially acceptable’ level. We characterize situations under which maximizing the accumulation of capital in each period is optimal. We also study how particular taxes and subsidies affect unemployment and capital accumulation. Finally, we show that a higher initial capital stock does not necessarily mean a quicker attainment of self-sustained full employment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Basu KC (1980) Optimal policies in dual economies. Q J Econ 94:187–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Basu KC (1984) The less developed economy. Oxford, Basil Blackwell

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhagwati JN, Srinivasan TN (1974) On reanalyzing the Harris-Todaro model: policy rankings in the case of sector-specific sticky wages. Am Econ Rev 64:502–508

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calvo GA (1978) Urban unemployment and wage determination in LDC's: trade unions in the Harris-Todaro model. Int Econ Rev 19:65–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Gang IN, Gangopadhyay S (1985) A note on optimal policies in dual economies. Q J Econ 100:1067–1071

    Google Scholar 

  • Gang IN, Gangopadhyay S (1987 a) Employment, output and the choice of techniques: the trade-offs revisited. J Dev Econ 25:321–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Gang IN, Gangopadhyay S (1987 b) Optimal policies in a dual economy with open unemployment and surplus labour. Oxford Econ Pap 39:378–387

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris JR, Todaro MP (1970) Migration, unemployment and development: a two-sector model. Am Econ Rev 60:126–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis AW (1954) Economic development with unlimited supplies of labour. Manchester School 22:139–191

    Google Scholar 

  • McCool (1982) Wage subsidies and distortionary taxes in a mobile capital Harris Todaro model. Economica 49:69–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Stiglitz JE (1974) Alternative theories of wage determination and unemployment in LDCs: the labour turnover model. Q J Econ 88:194–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Welch F (1974) Minimum wage legislation in the United States. Econ Inquiry 12:285–318

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Duttal, B., Gang, I.N. & Gangopadhyay, S. Subsidy policies with capital accumulation: Maintaining employment levels. J Popul Econ 2, 301–318 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00171006

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00171006

Keywords

Navigation