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The tale of the tails: Canadian income inequality in the 1980s and 1990s

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  • Marc Frenette
  • David A. Green
  • Kevin Milligan

Abstract

. We present new evidence on levels and trends in after‐tax income inequality in Canada between 1980 and 2000. We argue that existing data sources may miss changes in the tails of the income distribution, and that many of the changes in the income distribution have been in the tails. For this reason, we turn to an alternative source. In particular, we construct data on after‐tax and transfer income using Census files augmented with predicted taxes based on information available from administrative tax data. Using these data, we find that Canadian after‐tax inequality levels are substantially higher than has been previously recognized, primarily because income levels are lower at the bottom of the distribution than in commonly used survey data. We also find larger long‐term increases in after‐tax income inequality and far more variability over the economic cycle. This raises interesting questions about the role of the tax and transfer system in mitigating both trends and fluctuations in market income inequality. Les auteurs présentent de nouveaux résultats sur les niveaux et tendances de l'inégalité des revenus après impôts au Canada entre 1980 et 2000. On suggère que les données existantes peuvent avoir ignoré des changements dans les extrémités de cette distribution alors que le gros des changements y était concentré. Pour cette raison, les auteurs se sont tournés vers une autre source de données. Ils ont construit une base de données sur les revenus après impôts et les paiements de transfert en utilisant les données du recensement ainsi que des données additionnelles sur les impôts prévus à partir de renseignements disponibles dans les dossiers administratifs. On découvre que les niveaux d'inégalité des revenus après impôts sont beaucoup plus élevés que ce qu'on a suggéré jusqu'ici: d'abord parce que les niveaux de revenus sont plus bas au pied de la distribution que ne le suggèrent les données d'enquêtes. On découvre aussi un accroissement plus grand à long terme de l'inégalité des revenus après impôts et une plus grande variabilité au cours du cycle économique. Voilà qui soulève des questions intéressantes à propos du rôle de la fiscalité et du système de paiements de transfert dans la modulation de la tendance et des fluctuations dans l'inégalité des revenus du marché.

Suggested Citation

  • Marc Frenette & David A. Green & Kevin Milligan, 2007. "The tale of the tails: Canadian income inequality in the 1980s and 1990s," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(3), pages 734-764, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:canjec:v:40:y:2007:i:3:p:734-764
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2007.00429.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • H50 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - General

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