Tax curvature

Open Access
Authors
Publication date 2021
Series Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper, 2021-071/VI
Number of pages 18
Publisher SSRN
Organisations
  • Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) - Amsterdam School of Economics Research Institute (ASE-RI)
  • Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB)
Abstract In a Mirrleesian environment, a monopsonist sets hourly wages and individuals choose how many hours to work. Labor market outcomes do not only depend on the level and slope of the income tax function, but also on its curvature. A more concave tax schedule raises the elasticity of labor supply, which boosts wages. Consequently, optimal marginal tax rates for low-skilled workers are declining in income. I derive an optimal tax formula in terms of sufficient statistics that accounts for the impact of tax curvature on labor market outcomes.
Document type Working paper
Language English
Published at https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3895549
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taxcurvature_cesifo (Submitted manuscript)
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