Some Inflationary Aspects of Distributive Conflict:Reassessing Canadian Inflation, Part I. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aquanno, Scott; Brennan, Jordan
• Is Part Of: Journal of economic issues. Volume 50:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 217
• Page End: 244
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: conflict inflation -- distributive conflict -- inequality -- institutional power -- labor unions -- market structure -- monetary policy; B52 -- D30 -- D40 -- E31 -- J50; Economics -- Periodicals; Economics; Économie politique -- Périodiques; Economie; ECONOMICS; ECONOMIC POLICY; Periodicals; 330.05
• DOI: 10.1080/00213624.2016.1148519
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-3624

Abstract

Abstract: This is the first installment of a two-part article, in which we explore the empirical validity of the post-Keynesian "conflict inflation" theory for Canada. By documenting the numerous points of contact between Canadian inflation, on one hand, and institutional power and distributive conflict, on the other, we argue that inflation may be validly understood as a power process insofar as it feeds on social conflict and is systematically associated with the redistribution of income between different income groups. Over the past century, Canadian inflation has tended to redistribute income from capital to labor, from large to small firms, and from the upper to the lower income brackets. Given these facts, Canadian inflation must be understood as a political phenomenon.