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Taxes, transfers, and state economic differences

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  • Israel Malkin
  • Daniel J. Wilson

Abstract

Taxes collected by the U.S. government are paid out through transfers that promote economic equity among states. This system redistributes funds between richer and poorer states over the long run and helps stabilize states hit by temporary economic shocks. Surprisingly, little if any of this redistribution and stabilization comes from transfer payments through federal programs and services. Rather, differences across states in federal tax payments drive these effects. Research suggests a similar system of taxes and transfers in the European Union could have reduced recent economic divergence among member states.

Suggested Citation

  • Israel Malkin & Daniel J. Wilson, 2013. "Taxes, transfers, and state economic differences," FRBSF Economic Letter, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, issue dec2.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedfel:y:2013:i:dec2:n:2013-36
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pierfederico Asdrubali & Bent E. Sørensen & Oved Yosha, 1996. "Channels of Interstate Risk Sharing: United States 1963–1990," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 111(4), pages 1081-1110.
    2. Bayoumi, Tamim & Masson, Paul R., 1995. "Fiscal flows in the United States and Canada: Lessons for monetary union in Europe," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 39(2), pages 253-274, February.
    3. Xavier Sala-i-Martin & Jeffrey Sachs, 1991. "Fiscal Federalism and Optimum Currency Areas: Evidence for Europe From the United States," NBER Working Papers 3855, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. James Feyrer & Bruce Sacerdote, 2013. "How Much Would US Style Fiscal Integration Buffer European Unemployment and Income Shocks? (A Comparative Empirical Analysis)," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 103(3), pages 125-128, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Etienne Farvaque & Florence Huart, 2017. "A policymaker’s guide to a Euro area stabilization fund," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 34(1), pages 11-30, April.

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    Keywords

    Taxation; Taxation - Europe;

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