Accumulation, distribution and employment: a structural VAR approach to a Kaleckian macro model

Abstract

The paper investigates the relation between effective demand, income distribution and unemployment empirically. A Kaleckian macro model is presented and tested by means of a structural vector autoregression (VAR) model. The hypotheses explored focus on the determination of unemployment. The VAR model consists of capital accumulation, capacity utilization, the profit share, unemployment and the growth of labor productivity and is estimated for the USA, UK and France. We find that employment is demand-led and that income distribution has little effect on either demand or employment. Technological progress effects income distribution as well as employment.