Perpetuating regional asymmetries through income transfers

Abstract

This paper studies the effect of income transfers on the distribution of economic activity through a modified FE model. The model incorporates some key features of the Dutch disease literature: sectorial mobility and non-tradable goods. If foreign competition is high (high trade openness), transfers could cause a Dutch disease in the short and long runs. For intermediate levels of foreign competition, Dutch disease appears only in the short run. And, for low levels, the recipient region always benefits from the income transfers.Additionally, when economies of scale are large, the transfers could perpetuate a core–periphery structure.