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Rethinking the Pfähler–Lambert decomposition to analyse real-world personal income taxes

Author

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  • Jorge Onrubia
  • Fidel Picos-Sánchez
  • María Carmen Rodado

Abstract

We provide a generalization and adaptation of the decomposition methodology by Pfähler (Bull Econ Res 42:121–129, 1990 ) and Lambert (The distribution and redistribution of income, 1st edn, 1989 , The distribution and redistribution of income, 3rd edn, 2001 ), designed to assess the redistributive effect of personal income taxation. In particular, we generalize the methodology to several deductions, allowances, schedules or tax credits, making it suitable for real-world complex tax structures, especially dual income taxes. Additionally, we avoid the problem of sequentiality on the measurement of partial redistributive effects and also take into account the re-ranking effects of tax treatments not related to income. Finally we illustrate the utility of the methodology by carrying out an empirical analysis for the 2007 Spanish Personal Income Tax, which meant a shift from a quasi-comprehensive to a semi-dual income tax. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Jorge Onrubia & Fidel Picos-Sánchez & María Carmen Rodado, 2014. "Rethinking the Pfähler–Lambert decomposition to analyse real-world personal income taxes," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 21(4), pages 796-812, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:itaxpf:v:21:y:2014:i:4:p:796-812
    DOI: 10.1007/s10797-014-9316-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Stefano Boscolo, 2021. "On the horizontal inequity effect of the erosion of the pit base: the case of Italy," Politica economica, Società editrice il Mulino, issue 1, pages 43-82.
    2. Julio López‐Laborda & Carmen Marín‐González & Jorge Onrubia, 2022. "The removal of tax expenditures from Spanish personal income tax: Impact on tax collection and income distribution," Public Budgeting & Finance, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(2), pages 221-254, June.
    3. Takeshi Miyazaki, 2016. "Measurement of redistributive effect of tax rates from a longitudinal perspective: an application of the fixed taxable income approach," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(8), pages 588-591, May.
    4. Carlos Díaz-Caro & Jorge Onrubia, 2019. "How Did the ‘Dualization’ of the Spanish Income Tax Affect Horizontal Equity? Assessing its Impact Using Copula Functions," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 231(4), pages 81-124, December.
    5. Takeshi Miyazaki & Yukinobu Kitamura & Taro Ohno, 2019. "Income Tax Reforms and Redistribution by Age Group: Evidence From Japan," The Japanese Economic Review, Japanese Economic Association, vol. 70(1), pages 105-122, March.
    6. Simone Pellegrino & Achille Vernizzi, 2018. "Decomposing the Redistributive Effect of Taxation to Reveal Axiom Violations," Working papers 049, Department of Economics, Social Studies, Applied Mathematics and Statistics (Dipartimento di Scienze Economico-Sociali e Matematico-Statistiche), University of Torino.
    7. Miyazaki, Takeshi & Kitamura, Yukinobu & 北村, 行伸 & Ohno, Taro, 2016. "Tax Reforms, Redistribution and Population Aging : Evidence from Japan," Discussion Paper Series 645, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
    8. Boscolo, Stefano, 2019. "The contribution of proportional taxes and tax-free cash benefits to income redistribution over the period 2005-2018: Evidence from Italy," EUROMOD Working Papers EM18/19, EUROMOD at the Institute for Social and Economic Research.
    9. Maier, Sofia & Ricci, Mattia, 2024. "The redistributive impact of consumption taxation in the EU: Lessons from the post-financial crisis decade," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 738-755.
    10. Paolo Caro, 2020. "Decomposing Personal Income Tax Redistribution with Application to Italy," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 18(1), pages 113-129, March.
    11. Stefano Boscolo, 2020. "On the Horizontal Inequity Effect of the Erosion of the PIT Base: The Case of Italy," Department of Economics 0176, University of Modena and Reggio E., Faculty of Economics "Marco Biagi".
    12. Paolo Di Caro, 2017. "Analisi distributiva dell?IRPEF utilizzando i microdati di fonte fiscale," ECONOMIA PUBBLICA, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2017(1), pages 35-59.
    13. Thor O. Thoresen & Zhiyang Jia & Peter J. Lambert, 2016. "Is there More Redistribution Now? A Review of Methods for Evaluating Tax Redistributional Effects," FinanzArchiv: Public Finance Analysis, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 72(3), pages 302-333, September.
    14. Stefano Boscolo, 2019. "Quantifying the Redistributive Effect of the Erosion of the Italian Personal Income Tax Base: A Microsimulation Exercise," ECONOMIA PUBBLICA, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2019(2), pages 39-80.
    15. Stefano Boscolo, 2019. "The Contribution of Proportional Taxes and Tax-Free Cash Benefits to Income Redistribution over the Period 2005-2018: Evidence from Italy," Department of Economics 0152, University of Modena and Reggio E., Faculty of Economics "Marco Biagi".

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Decomposition; Personal income tax; Progressivity; Redistribution; D31; H23; H24;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies

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