Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Working Paper Series, Center for Fiscal Studies,
Uppsala University, Department of Economics

No 2010:12: The Welfare Gains of Age Related Optimal Income Taxation

Spencer Bastani (), Sören Blomquist () and Luca Micheletto ()
Additional contact information
Spencer Bastani: Uppsala Center for Fiscal Studies, Postal: Department of Economics, Uppsala University, P.O. Box 513, SE-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden
Sören Blomquist: Uppsala Center for Fiscal Studies, Postal: Department of Economics, Uppsala University, P.O. Box 513, SE-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden
Luca Micheletto: Uppsala Center for Fiscal Studies, Postal: Department of Economics, Uppsala University, P.O. Box 513, SE-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden

Abstract: Using a calibrated overlapping generations model we quantify the welfare gains of an age dependent income tax. Agents face uncertainty regarding future abilities and can by saving transfer consumption across periods. The welfare gain of switching from an age-independent to an age-dependent nonlinear tax amounts in our benchmark model to around three percent of GDP. The gains are particularly high when there are restrictions on debt policy. The gains of using a nonlinear- as opposed to a linear tax are even larger. Surprisingly, it is of secondary importance to optimally choose the tax on interest income.

Keywords: labor income taxation; capital income taxation; age-dependent taxes; OLG model

JEL-codes: H21; H23; H24

48 pages, October 25, 2010

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Published as
Spencer Bastani, Sören Blomquist and Luca Micheletto, (2013), 'The Welfare Gains of Age Related Optimal Income Taxation', International Economic Review, vol 54, no 4, pages 1219-1249

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