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Heterogeneous Workers and Federal Income Taxes in a Spatial Equilibrium

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  • Mark Colas
  • Kevin Hutchinson

Abstract

We study the geographic incidence and efficiency of an income tax by estimating a spatial equilibrium model with heterogeneous workers. The US income tax shifts households out of high-productivity cities, leading to locational inefficiency of 0.25 percent of output. Removing spatial tax distortions increases inequality because more educated households are more mobile and own larger shares of land. Flattening the tax schedule, or introducing cost-of-living adjustments or local wage adjustments leads to efficiency gains but causes substantial increases in inequality. Differences in mobility and land ownership across skill groups create an equity-efficiency trade-off that is unique to spatial settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark Colas & Kevin Hutchinson, 2021. "Heterogeneous Workers and Federal Income Taxes in a Spatial Equilibrium," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 13(2), pages 100-134, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejpol:v:13:y:2021:i:2:p:100-134
    DOI: 10.1257/pol.20180529
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Laurence Ales & Christopher Sleet, 2022. "Optimal Taxation of Income‐Generating Choice," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 90(5), pages 2397-2436, September.
    2. Mark Colas & John M. Morehouse, 2022. "The environmental cost of land‐use restrictions," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 13(1), pages 179-223, January.
    3. Colas, Mark & Sachs, Dominik, 2022. "The Indirect Fiscal Benefits of Low-Skilled Immigration," Rationality and Competition Discussion Paper Series 352, CRC TRR 190 Rationality and Competition.
    4. Colas, Mark & Saulnier, Emmett, 2023. "Vertical migration externalities," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    5. Mark Colas & Dominik Sachs, 2024. "The Indirect Fiscal Benefits of Low-Skilled Immigration," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 16(2), pages 515-550, May.
    6. Mark Colas & Robert McDonough, 2021. "Social Transfers and Spatial Distortions," Opportunity and Inclusive Growth Institute Working Papers 54, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • H22 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Incidence
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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