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Labor Supply Reaction to Wage Cuts and Tax Increases: A Real-Effort Experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Tomoharu Mori
  • Hirofumi Kurokawa
  • Fumio Ohtake

Abstract

We investigate the labor supply reaction to wage cuts and tax increases using a real-effort experiment. First, subjects perform a task and receive a reward with taxes deducted. Second, the wage cut treatment reduces the wage rate and the tax increase treatment increases the tax (the real wage is equal for both treatments); wage and tax remain unchanged for the control group. Both treatments had significantly smaller increases in effort levels than the control group and the increases are not different between treatments. Therefore, "net wage illusion" and "tax aversion" identified in previous studies are not supported.

Suggested Citation

  • Tomoharu Mori & Hirofumi Kurokawa & Fumio Ohtake, 2022. "Labor Supply Reaction to Wage Cuts and Tax Increases: A Real-Effort Experiment," FinanzArchiv: Public Finance Analysis, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 78(3), pages 362-377.
    • Handle: RePEc:mhr:finarc:urn:doi:10.1628/fa-2022-0008
    DOI: 10.1628/fa-2022-0008
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    Cited by:

    1. Anna Esslinger & Katharina Pfeil & Lars P. Feld, 2024. "Asymmetric Labor Supply Responses to Taxation," CESifo Working Paper Series 11317, CESifo.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    labor supply; net wage illusion; tax aversion; laborsupply; netwageillusion; taxaversion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • 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
    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • 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

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