Labor supply responses to income tax free and bracket expansions

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Panayiota Lyssiotou ◽  
Elena Savva
Keyword(s):  
Labor Supply ◽  
Income Taxation ◽  
Foreign Workers ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
Marginal Tax Rate ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Marginal Tax Rates ◽  
Males And Females

PurposeAn important concern of economic policy analysis is how income taxes affect labor supply since this is crucial in assessing the efficiency costs of taxation and designing labor income taxation. The focus in the literature has been mostly to study the responses of high earners and women. The authors contribute to this literature by focusing more on how middle earners respond to financial incentives and whether the responses are different between men and women.Design/methodology/approachThe authors exploit substantial expansions in the level of individual income exempt from taxation and taxed at a lower marginal tax rate while the schedule of marginal tax rates remained the same. The authors adopt an empirical framework that is similar to Bosch and van der Klaauw (2012) and condition on the effects of other factors, such as inflows of foreign workers that may have affected the wages, participation and working hours of native males and females. The authors also conduct various sensitivity analyses to examine the robustness of the estimates.FindingsThe authors find robust evidence that the tax reforms increased the wages of medium and high educated married males and females significantly. They also had a positive impact on work participation that was more substantial for married women, especially the medium educated. The authors estimate significant positive own wage labor supply elasticities that are small and about the same for men and women when the authors condition on the labor outcome effects of inflows of EU and non-EU foreign workers, which changed the skill distribution of the economy and had a more significant impact on female labor outcomes. Smaller wage labor supply elasticities indicate lower disincentive effects and deadweight losses from the imposition of taxes and have implications on the design of optimal taxation of men and women.Originality/valuePrevious investigations of the labor supply responses of both men and women to a given policy change have been identified mostly by exploiting changes in joint income taxation and marginal tax rates. The authors exploit substantial expansions in the level of individual income exempt from taxation and taxed at a lower marginal tax rate while the schedule of marginal tax rates remained the same. The income effects of these reforms could be limited since the reduced marginal tax rates apply to only part of the income.

scholarly journals Marginal Tax Rates and Income Inequality in a Life-Cycle Model

1999 ◽  
Vol 89 (5) ◽  
pp. 1197-1215 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Altig ◽  
Charles T Carlstrom
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Income Inequality ◽  
Computable General Equilibrium ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
Cycle Model ◽  
Marginal Tax Rate ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Marginal Tax Rates ◽  
Quantitative Impact ◽  
Distribution Of Income

In this paper we study the quantitative impact of marginal tax rates on the distribution of income. Our methodology builds on computable general-equilibrium framework. We find that distortions from marginal tax rate changes of the sort implied by the Tax Reform Act of 1986 have sizable effects on income inequality in a reasonably quantified life-cycle setting: In our model rate changes alone capture half the increase in the pretax Gini that actually occurred between 1984 and 1989. (JEL C68, D31, H30, H20)

Measuring “Schmeduling”

2019 ◽  
Vol 87 (5) ◽  
pp. 2399-2438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Rees-Jones ◽  
Dmitry Taubinsky
Keyword(s):  
Income Tax ◽  
Mental Representations ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
Marginal Tax Rate ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Policy Relevance ◽  
Marginal Tax Rates ◽  
Federal Income Tax ◽  
The U.S ◽  
Empirical Framework

Abstract What mental models do individuals use to approximate their tax schedule? Using incentivized forecasts of the U.S. Federal income tax schedule, we estimate the prevalence of the “schmeduling” heuristics for constructing mental representations of nonlinear incentive schemes. We find evidence of widespread reliance on the “ironing” heuristic, which linearizes the tax schedule using one’s average tax rate. In our preferred specification, 43% of the population irons. We find no evidence of reliance on the “spotlighting” heuristic, which linearizes the tax schedule using one’s marginal tax rate. We show that the presence of ironing rationalizes a number of empirical patterns in individuals’ perceptions of tax liability across the income distribution. Furthermore, while our empirical framework accommodates a rich class of other misperceptions, we find that a simple model including only ironers and correct forecasters accurately predicts average underestimation of marginal tax rates. We replicate our finding of prevalent ironing, and a lack of other systematic misperceptions, in a controlled experiment that studies real-stakes decisions across exogenously varied tax schedules. To illustrate the policy relevance of the ironing heuristic, we show that it augments the benefits of progressive taxation in a standard model of earnings choice. We quantify these benefits in a calibrated model of the U.S. tax system.

Can Income Tax Rules Affect Management Strategies for Forest Roads?

1986 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Sessions
Keyword(s):  
Income Tax ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Capital Investments ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
Marginal Tax Rate ◽  
Forest Roads ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Management Objectives ◽  
Marginal Tax Rates

Abstract Income tax rules on capital investments in forest roads affect strategies for managing forest land. Costs of roads plus harvesting are divided into expensable, depreciable, and nondepreciable components. Tax rules that differentiate among types of costs can influence investments in both the number and standard of roads. The marginal tax rate of the landowner is an important variable. Income tax rules may lead landowners with similar management objectives but different marginal tax rates to adopt different strategies of road management. West. J. Appl. For. 1:26-28, Jan. 1986.

The Impact of Floors and Phase-Outs on Taxpayers' Decisions and Understanding of Marginal Tax Rates

2003 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J. Rupert ◽  
Louise E. Single ◽  
Arnold M. Wright
Keyword(s):  
Low Complexity ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
High Complexity ◽  
Marginal Tax Rate ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Rate Dependent ◽  
Decision Performance ◽  
Marginal Tax Rates ◽  
Phase Out ◽  
The Impact

Tax provisions that reduce deductions and credits by imposing floors and phase-outs have become an increasingly popular tool used by Congress. However, these provisions also obscure the marginal tax rate, thereby potentially impairing the ability of taxpayers to make optimal decisions. We investigate the effects of floors and phase-outs on taxpayers' ability to determine their correct marginal tax rates and how this may affect tax-rate-dependent investment decisions. To investigate these potential effects we created an experimental setting in which taxpayers (89 M.B.A. students) were asked to maximize their after-tax income by choosing between a taxable and nontaxable bond. Each participant was assigned to one of three experimental tax systems: low complexity with no floors or phase-outs, medium complexity with one floor, and high complexity with both a floor and phase-out. The effective marginal tax rate was the same in each condition. The results indicate that decision performance was significantly better for participants facing the low complexity system than those in the medium or high complexity systems.

Analytical and Empirical Evidence of the Impact of Tax Rates on the Trade-off between Debt and Managerial Ownership

2001 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ananth Seetharaman ◽  
Zane L. Swanson ◽  
Bin Srinidhi
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Agency Costs ◽  
Control Agency ◽  
Cost Of Debt ◽  
Managerial Ownership ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
Marginal Tax Rate ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Marginal Tax Rates

We show that, for a firm facing a high marginal tax rate, the benefit of using debt relative to managerial ownership to control agency costs increases at a decreasing rate. Debt and managerial stock ownership represent alternative mechanisms for reducing agency costs of the relationship between owner-investors and managers in firms. However, although debt and managerial ownership provide overlapping benefits, only debt can provide the differential benefit of reducing the firm's tax liability. While the tax benefit from using debt relative to managerial ownership to control agency conflicts is an increasing function of the firm's marginal tax rate, the decreased managerial ownership results in external investors bearing a larger part of the cost of debt that accrues to the firm. Effectively, for external investors, the relative cost of debt decreases at a decreasing rate when the marginal tax rate increases. Therefore, the trade-off between debt and managerial ownership predicted by the agency literature is expected to be strong at low marginal tax rates, but get progressively weaker at higher marginal tax rates. In this paper, we build an analytical model of this hypothesis and provide strong empirical evidence in its support. Our study contributes to a further understanding of how tax rates might affect the interaction of capital structure decisions with the incentive compatibility issues and corporate governance. The study also provides a basis for future studies to examine factors other than tax rates that differentially affect debt and managerial ownership costs.

Solving the Muni Puzzle: Who Benefits from Tax Exemption of Government Debt?

2020 ◽  
pp. 109114212096037
Author(s):  
Konul Amrahova Riegel
Keyword(s):  
Random Coefficients ◽  
Municipal Bonds ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
Marginal Tax Rate ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Asset Pricing Theory ◽  
Marginal Tax Rates ◽  
Tax Exempt ◽  
Pricing Theory ◽  
Unobserved Effects

I provide a new approach to measuring interest savings associated with issuing tax-exempt municipal bonds (munis) and present empirical evidence offering a solution to the long-standing “muni puzzle.” I show that the tax policy is effective and consistent with theory once I account for idiosyncratic issuer risk and investor preferences. I match tax-exempt munis to near-identical taxable munis issued by the same government at the same time with the same security characteristics to identify the slope of and the trend in implied marginal tax rates. Results of the random coefficients model, which mitigates issuer- and issuance-level unobserved effects, predict the slope of the marginal tax rate to be consistent with asset pricing theory and the tax profile of the typical muni investor. Findings also imply cyclicality over time and heterogeneity in implied marginal tax rates across issuers due to variations in idiosyncratic risk.

scholarly journals The optimal top marginal tax rate: Application to Hungary

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aron Kiss
Keyword(s):  
Labor Supply ◽  
Income Tax ◽  
Income Taxation ◽  
Actual Rate ◽  
Personal Income Tax ◽  
Marginal Tax Rate ◽  
Optimal Income Taxation ◽  
Tax System ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Recent Developments

The paper applies recent developments in the theory of optimal income taxation to the Hungarian personal income tax system. The main conclusion is that the optimal top marginal tax rate in Hungary is likely to be higher, perhaps substantially, than the actual rate. It is discussed how this result depends on the parameters describing labor-supply behavior, the income distribution, and the redistributive preferences of society.

Higher Taxes at the Top: The Role of Entrepreneurs

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-36
Author(s):  
Bettina Brüggemann
Keyword(s):  
Income Distribution ◽  
Income Tax ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
Welfare Gains ◽  
Marginal Tax Rate ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Marginal Tax Rates

This paper computes optimal top marginal tax rates in Bewley-Huggett-Aiyagari–type economies that include entrepreneurs. Consistent with the data, entrepreneurs are overrepresented at the top of the income distribution and are thus disproportionately affected by an increase in the top marginal income tax rate. The top marginal tax rate that maximizes welfare is 60 percent. While average welfare gains are positive and similar across occupations along the transition, they are larger for entrepreneurs than for workers in the long run, and this occupational gap in welfare gains after the tax increase widens with increasing income. (JEL D11, D21, D31, H21, H24, L26)

scholarly journals The Case for a Progressive Tax: From Basic Research to Policy Recommendation

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 165-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Diamond ◽  
Emmanuel Saez
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
Capital Income ◽  
Marginal Tax Rate ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Marginal Tax Rates ◽  
Low Income Families

This paper presents the case for tax progressivity based on recent results in optimal tax theory. We consider the optimal progressivity of earnings taxation and whether capital income should be taxed. We critically discuss the academic research on these topics and when and how the results can be used for policy recommendations. We argue that a result from basic research is relevant for policy only if 1) it is based on economic mechanisms that are empirically relevant and first order to the problem, 2) it is reasonably robust to changes in the modeling assumptions, and 3) the policy prescription is implementable (i.e, is socially acceptable and not too complex). We obtain three policy recommendations from basic research that satisfy these criteria reasonably well. First, very high earners should be subject to high and rising marginal tax rates on earnings. Second, low-income families should be encouraged to work with earnings subsidies, which should then be phased-out with high implicit marginal tax rates. Third, capital income should be taxed. We explain why the famous zero marginal tax rate result for the top earner in the Mirrlees model and the zero capital income tax rate results of Chamley and Judd, and Atkinson and Stiglitz are not policy relevant in our view.

Taxation in a mixed economy: the case of China

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davidson Sinclair ◽  
Larry Li
Keyword(s):  
Income Tax ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Corporate Income Tax ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
Government Ownership ◽  
Effective Tax Rate ◽  
Effective Tax Rates ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
For Profit

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how Chinese firms’ ownership structure is related to their effective tax rate. The People’s Republic of China provides an interesting environment to examine the corporate income tax. Government has significant ownership stakes in the for-profit economy and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are liable to the corporate income tax. This is very different to most other economies where SOE tends to dominate the not-for-profit economy and pays no corporate income tax. Government ownership also varies between the central government and local government in addition to state asset management bureaus. This provides a rich institutional background to examining the corporate income tax. Design/methodology/approach A panel data analysis approach is used to examine relationship between ownership structure and effective tax rates of all public firms in China from 1999 to 2009. Findings The authors report that effective tax rates do appear to vary across the ownership types, but that SOEs pay a statistically higher effective tax rate than to non-state-owned. In addition, local government owned SOE pay higher effective tax rates than central government and SAMB owned SOE. The authors also investigate Zimmerman’s (1983) political cost hypothesis. Unfortunately, these results are econometrically fragile with the statistical significance of those results varying by empirical technique. Originality/value This paper provides insight into government ownership and taxation in China.

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