scholarly journals THE IMPACT OF TAX POLICY ON ECONOMIC GROWTH, INCOME DISTRIBUTION, AND ALLOCATION OF TAXES

2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 28-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
James D. Gwartney ◽  
Robert A. Lawson

Using a sample of seventy-seven countries, this paper focuses on marginal tax rates and the income thresholds at which they apply to examine how the tax changes of the 1980s and 1990s have influenced economic growth, the distribution of income, and the share of taxes paid by various income groups. Many countries substantially reduced their highest marginal rates during the 1985-1995 period. The findings indicate that countries that reduced their highest marginal rates grew more rapidly than those that maintained high marginal rates. At the same time, the income distribution in several of the tax cutting countries became more unequal while there was little change or even a reduction in income inequality in most countries that maintained high marginal rates. Finally, the evidence suggests that there was a shift in the payment of the personal income tax away from those with low and middle incomes and toward those with the highest incomes.

Author(s):  
Larisa Bule ◽  
Līga Leitāne ◽  
Kristīne Rozīte

Personal income tax (PIT) policy in Latvia has been changed significantly in 2018 with the aim to reduce the tax burden and increase the income of working population by amending progressive tax rates and increasing the non-taxable minimum and minimum wage. Purpose − the aim of this study is to estimate the impact of PIT reform by assessing the effect of implementation of non-taxable minimum, deductions and substantiated spending on the dynamics of income and tax administration efficiency. Research methodology − PIT theoretic and normative concepts have been analyzed; unpublished data on actual wages in 2015−2018 provided by Latvian State Revenue Service and State Social Insurance Agency have been estimated. Findings − the main conclusion of this study is that the aim of the reform has not been achieved: income inequality hasn’t been reduced, an increase of income has been irrelevant, the gains from the reform have become unobtainable for the most unprotected groups because of the insufficient level of income. The implementation of the differentiated non-taxable minimum has generated PIT debts and higher administrative burden. Practical implications − the study may be implemented in case of progressive PIT for the reassessment of the tax framework and its future development. Originality/Value − this study is original, the actual effect of PIT reform in Latvia previously hasn’t been analyzed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-42
Author(s):  
Yaroslav Yarema

The article analyses the current mechanism of personal income taxation in Ukraine, examining the impact of its individual elements on total revenues from personal income tax. The analysis of revenue contributions from personal income taxation to the consolidated state budget and local budgets indicates that the personal income tax remains the most important sources of revenue. In the structure of personal income tax revenues, wages are the main source of taxable income. The author analyses the mechanism of taxation for natural persons (businessmen) and tax receipts flowing to local budgets from incomes from business activity and highlights its shortcomings. In this context, he proposes introducing progressive tax rates, which will make it possible to shift the tax burden from individuals with low incomes to those who earn higher incomes.


2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 380-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yolande Jordaan ◽  
Nicholaas J Schoeman

This paper is primarily concerned with the revenue and tax efficiency effects of adjustments to marginal tax rates on individual income as an instrument of possible tax reform. The hypothesis is that changes to marginal rates affect not only the revenue base, but also tax efficiency and the optimum level of taxes that supports economic growth. Using an optimal revenue-maximising rate (based on Laffer analysis), the elasticity of taxable income is derived with respect to marginal tax rates for each taxable-income category. These elasticities are then used to quantify the impact of changes in marginal rates on the revenue base and tax efficiency using a microsimulation (MS) tax model. In this first paper on the research results, much attention is paid to the structure of the model and the way in which the database has been compiled. The model allows for the dissemination of individual taxpayers by income groups, gender, educational level, age group, etc. Simulations include a scenario with higher marginal rates which is also more progressive (as in the 1998/1999 fiscal year), in which case tax revenue increases but the increase is overshadowed by a more than proportional decrease in tax efficiency as measured by its deadweight loss. On the other hand, a lowering of marginal rates (to bring South Africa’s marginal rates more in line with those of its peers) improves tax efficiency but also results in a substantial revenue loss. The estimated optimal individual tax to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio in order to maximise economic growth (6.7 per cent) shows a strong response to changes in marginal rates, and the results from this research indicate that a lowering of marginal rates would also move the actual ratio closer to its optimum level. Thus, the trade-off between revenue collected and tax efficiency should be carefully monitored when personal income tax reform is being considered.


2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina D. Romer ◽  
David H. Romer

This paper uses the interwar United States as a laboratory for investigating the incentive effects of marginal income tax rates. We examine the impact of the large changes in rates in this period on taxable income using time-series/cross-section analysis of data by small slices of the income distribution. We find that the effect operated in the expected direction but was economically small, and that it is precisely estimated and highly robust. We also find suggestive time-series evidence of a positive impact of marginal rate cuts on business formation, but no evidence of an important effect on other indicators of investment. (JEL D31, H24, H31, M13, N42)


2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 782-796
Author(s):  
SULAFA NOFAL

ABSTRACT Kaleckian literature is considered an important theme in the post-Keynesian school of economic thought. In the aftermath of the financial crisis, the endeavors of forming a new consensus regarding essential economic issues, in particular achieving economic growth became a need. Thus, the Kaleckian models returned to be in the spot since these models tackle the impact of changes in the distribution of income and address the question whether a redistribution of income away from wages and towards profits is capable of boosting growth. In this sense, this paper return to Kaleckian insights and offers a theoretical discussion of the distributional effects on aggregate demand and economic growth. Moreover, through the lens of neo-Kaleckian tradition, the evolution of the debate on wage-led and profit-led regimes in recent decades can be traced.


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