DP16479 Play for the Rich and Work for the Poor? The Optimal Distribution of Saving and Work in the Heterogeneous Agents Neoclassical Growth Model
In an economy with un-insurable idiosyncratic labor income risk, how should saving and work hours be distributed across income and wealth? To answer this question, we study a planner who cannot complete asset markets, but dictates how much individuals must work and save. With a U.S. calibration, the planner raises total savings but not hours, driving up aggregate wages which re-distributes income toward the consumption-poor. Across the distribution, the productive (high wage earners) should save more; the wealthy should work more; the poor should keep their work hours unchanged and take advantage of the indirect transfers from higher wages.