Michael Sattinger – författare

With increasing interest in the distribution of income generated by movements towards more inequality, this three-volume set presents an essential collection of previously published articles by leading scholars, which provide a key to understanding this important and controversial area. Volume I considers the problems of measurement and description and explores theories explaining the shape of distribution; it investigates explanations of the upper tail in terms of hierarchies and organisations and presents research on the dynamics of incomes. Volume II considers the determinants of an individual’s income on the one hand and analyses the factors influencing the entire distribution on the other. Non-labour income and policies that influence distribution are discussed in volume III.This collection will be of great interest to economists, statisticians and policymakers concerned with understanding the complex determinants of income distribution and inequality in our societies.

This monograph began as a study of the consequences of labor force effects, in­ cluding unemployment, for the distribution of earnings. I began by developing a model of job search. But following my previous work on the distribution of earnings, the search theory took a different form from the standard literature. Workers and firms were engaged in mutual search which effectively assigned workers to jobs. A number of open questions immediately became apparent, including the relation bet­ ween unemployment and inequality, the nature and costs of unemployment, and the role of choice. These quickly provided sufficient material for the monograph. I began work on the project in 1980 at Miami University of Ohio. I wish to thank my chairman there, William McKinstry, for the support I received during my last year there. My colleagues Donald Cymrot and James Moser provided some early com­ ments on the project and I am indebted to Joseph Simpson for extensive computer assistance.