Conflict as a closure: A Kaleckian model of growth and distribution under financialization
Book chapter, 2020

In this chapter, we show how the conflict between the shareholders (owners) and managers of firms in terms of profit rates generates dynamics between growth and distribution that results in a long-run variation in the capacity utilization rate. The model developed here generates oscillations in the rate of capacity utilization in the short run before settling down to its long-run value. Furthermore, the long-run value of the rate of capacity utilization falls within a range of plausible values, and this range is determined by the conflict between shareholders and managers. The conflict as a closure, we believe, provides a more realistic microeconomic underpinning to study the impact of distribution on accumulation and long-run utilization. In doing so, we have not taken the approach of the existence of normal utilization rate that is relied upon by the Harrodian authors and the endogenization of animal spirits in such a way that the actual utilization influences the desired or normal rate of utilization by the Kaleckian authors. The model yields hysteresis in that it generates two different disequilibrium growth paths when shareholders and managers struggle to gain control of the firm.

Author

Srinivasan Raghavendra

National University of Ireland Galway

Petri Piiroinen

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Dynamics

Conflict, Demand and Economic Development: Essays in Honour of Amit Bhaduri

70-87
978-0-367-41064-3 (ISBN)

Subject Categories

Economics

Roots

Basic sciences

DOI

10.4324/9780367814502

More information

Latest update

11/29/2021