Income Distribution Theory

This is a well-grounded restatement, defense, and development of the theory of income distribution in both its micro- and macroeconomic aspects. The author, an authority in the field who has spent many years developing the ideas in this book, balances neoclassical theories with Keynesian and "radical" approaches. He considers income distribution theory in terms of ideology, statistics, micro- and macroeconomics, income policies, and the poverty problem. The result is a distinctive and comprehensive treatment of a subject that has polarized many economists over many decades. Bronfenbrenner reacts against conventional theories that concentrate on output markets, virtually ignoring input prices. He also opposes the brand of institutionalism that regards "democratic business unionism" as an American institution that can do no wrong. Overall, Bronfenbrenner presents an eclectic defense of a "traditional" theory of economics that has been under attack from rival viewpoints with insufficient rebuttal, and that proves to be a powerful tool of analysis in dealing with this subject. The book is organized into three main parts: an ideological and statistical personal introduction to income distribution, microeconomic distribution theory, and macroeconomic distribution theory. A final chapter considers incomes policies, with a rather skeptical view of the prospects for political control of income distribution within a basically free economy. The manuscript has been widely used and class tested over the past thirty-five years. The book will be useful to professional economists. It may be used as a basic text in courses on income distribution and as a supplementary text in microeconomic theory. Martin Bronfenbrenner (1914-1997) wrote five books including this volume and he has written many articles. He has been a professor at Wisconsin University, Michigan State University, Carnegie-Mellon, Minnesota University, Duke University as well as Aoyama Gakuin University in Japan. In 1997 he was named a distinguished fellow to the American Economics Association. He was a fellow at the American Academy of Arts and sciences, past vice president of the American Economic Association, and past president of the History of Economics Society and the Southern Economic Association.

"Professor Bronfenbrenner sees the content of his book as one of "reformulation and restatement..". of income distribution theory... A reading of Professor Bronfenbrenner's text may serve as a reminder that the removal of distribution theory from the sphere of (neoclassical) value theory purely on the basis of alleged analytical discrepancies in the general marginal productivity model may at present be a trifle premature."

--R. N. Vaughan, The Economic Journal

"One of the most striking features of this book is the breadth of its coverage and indeed in this respect it must be almost unique... [T]he book meets a very important gap in the literature and the author's clarity of presentation and engaging style will be widely appreciated by its readers."

--A. B. Atkinson, Economica

"I feel that this book might be a useful supplement to courses in micro-economics, macro-economics, and labour, for there are important aspects of distribution that tend to be overlooked in the economics curriculum."

--Dan Usher, The Canadian Journal of Economics

"Brofenbrenner probably has written more journal articles on income distribution than anyone else, and he undoubtedly has taught more courses under that title at more universities than anyone... By drawing together the strands of his own thinking and by restating and reformulating the theory of income distribution as he sees it, he has made a valuable contribution to economics... The author is an exponent of neoclassical distribution theory, but he has produced a unique book. He not only tells the reader what income distribution theory is, but also what it is not."

--Robert J. Lampman, Industrial and Labor Relations Review

"Bronfenbrenner's book is really quite good. His discussion of institutional influences and personal distribution is lucid and authoritative; his treatment of incomes policies and guidelines is a delight; and his coverage of functional distribution is sound and reliable... Bronfenbrenner is alive to the many difficulties and theoretical complexities of the neoclassical position... [H]is book deserves high praise. It is a pleasure to follow him through the myriad cross-currents of argument on some recondite subject to a definite and defensible, if frequently unorthodox, conclusion. He also presents a good account of the statistical and interpretive problems in testing neoclassical theory."

--C. E. Ferguson and Edward J. Nell, Journal of Economic Literature

"Professor Bronfenbrenner sees the content of his book as one of "reformulation and restatement..". of income distribution theory... A reading of Professor Bronfenbrenner's text may serve as a reminder that the removal of distribution theory from the sphere of (neoclassical) value theory purely on the basis of alleged analytical discrepancies in the general marginal productivity model may at present be a trifle premature."

--R. N. Vaughan, The Economic Journal

"One of the most striking features of this book is the breadth of its coverage and indeed in this respect it must be almost unique... [T]he book meets a very important gap in the literature and the author's clarity of presentation and engaging style will be widely appreciated by its readers."

--A. B. Atkinson, Economica

"I feel that this book might be a useful supplement to courses in micro-economics, macro-economics, and labour, for there are important aspects of distribution that tend to be overlooked in the economics curriculum."

--Dan Usher, The Canadian Journal of Economics

"Brofenbrenner probably has written more journal articles on income distribution than anyone else, and he undoubtedly has taught more courses under that title at more universities than anyone... By drawing together the strands of his own thinking and by restating and reformulating the theory of income distribution as he sees it, he has made a valuable contribution to economics... The author is an exponent of neoclassical distribution theory, but he has produced a unique book. He not only tells the reader what income distribution theory is, but also what it is not."

--Robert J. Lampman, Industrial and Labor Relations Review

"Bronfenbrenner's book is really quite good. His discussion of institutional influences and personal distribution is lucid and authoritative; his treatment of incomes policies and guidelines is a delight; and his coverage of functional distribution is sound and reliable... Bronfenbrenner is alive to the many difficulties and theoretical complexities of the neoclassical position... [H]is book deserves high praise. It is a pleasure to follow him through the myriad cross-currents of argument on some recondite subject to a definite and defensible, if frequently unorthodox, conclusion. He also presents a good account of the statistical and interpretive problems in testing neoclassical theory."

--C. E. Ferguson and Edward J. Nell, Journal of Economic Literature

-Professor Bronfenbrenner sees the content of his book as one of -reformulation and restatement-... of income distribution theory... A reading of Professor Bronfenbrenner's text may serve as a reminder that the removal of distribution theory from the sphere of (neoclassical) value theory purely on the basis of alleged analytical discrepancies in the general marginal productivity model may at present be a trifle premature.-

--R. N. Vaughan, The Economic Journal

-One of the most striking features of this book is the breadth of its coverage and indeed in this respect it must be almost unique... [T]he book meets a very important gap in the literature and the author's clarity of presentation and engaging style will be widely appreciated by its readers.-

--A. B. Atkinson, Economica

-I feel that this book might be a useful supplement to courses in micro-economics, macro-economics, and labour, for there are important aspects of distribution that tend to be overlooked in the economics curriculum.-

--Dan Usher, The Canadian Journal of Economics

-Brofenbrenner probably has written more journal articles on income distribution than anyone else, and he undoubtedly has taught more courses under that title at more universities than anyone... By drawing together the strands of his own thinking and by restating and reformulating the theory of income distribution as he sees it, he has made a valuable contribution to economics... The author is an exponent of neoclassical distribution theory, but he has produced a unique book. He not only tells the reader what income distribution theory is, but also what it is not.-

--Robert J. Lampman, Industrial and Labor Relations Review

-Bronfenbrenner's book is really quite good. His discussion of institutional influences and personal distribution is lucid and authoritative; his treatment of incomes policies and guidelines is a delight; and his coverage of functional distribution is sound and reliable... Bronfenbrenner is alive to the many difficulties and theoretical complexities of the neoclassical position... [H]is book deserves high praise. It is a pleasure to follow him through the myriad cross-currents of argument on some recondite subject to a definite and defensible, if frequently unorthodox, conclusion. He also presents a good account of the statistical and interpretive problems in testing neoclassical theory.-

--C. E. Ferguson and Edward J. Nell, Journal of Economic Literature