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Using the Discrete Model to Derive Optimal Income Tax Rates

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  • Spencer Bastani

Abstract

I demonstrate how the discrete model of optimum income taxation can be used to derive the structure of optimal income tax rates. I compare simulations of the discrete and continuous models of optimum income taxation under identical circumstances, based on U.S. wage data. The two models produce similar results once the number of types used to represent the skill distribution is sufficiently large. Whether the discrete or the continuous model is used, in order to accurately capture the shape of the optimal schedule of marginal tax rates, a large number of taxpayers should be employed.

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  • Spencer Bastani, 2015. "Using the Discrete Model to Derive Optimal Income Tax Rates," FinanzArchiv: Public Finance Analysis, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 71(1), pages 106-117, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:mhr:finarc:urn:sici:0015-2218(201503)71:1_106:utdmtd_2.0.tx_2-k
    DOI: 10.1628/001522108X14206439673134
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    Cited by:

    1. Oztek, Abdullah Selim, 2019. "A Characterization for Marginal Income Tax Schedules," MPRA Paper 103046, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 02 Dec 2019.
    2. Spencer Bastani & Sören Blomquist & Luca Micheletto, 2019. "Nonlinear and piecewise linear income taxation, and the subsidization of work-related goods," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 26(4), pages 806-834, August.
    3. Tayibov, Khayyam, 2024. "Tagging Birthplace for Optimal Tax Policy, Redistribution, and Welfare," Working Papers in Economics and Statistics 9/2024, Linnaeus University, School of Business and Economics, Department of Economics and Statistics.
    4. Ayaz, Mehmet & Fricke, Lea & Fuest, Clemens & Sachs, Dominik, 2023. "Who should bear the burden of COVID-19 related fiscal pressure? An optimal income taxation perspective," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    5. Spencer Bastani & Laurent Simula, 2014. "Commentaires. Évaluer les limites à la redistribution : approches partielles ou approche globale ?," Économie et Statistique, Programme National Persée, vol. 467(1), pages 163-171.
    6. Laurent Simula & Alain Trannoy, 2023. "Bunching in rank-dependent optimal income tax schedules," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 60(1), pages 237-263, January.
    7. Schock, Matthias Malte, 2019. "Steuerreformvorschläge des Mirrlees Committee und der Stiftung Marktwirtschaft [Tax Reform Proposals of the Mirrlees Committee and the Stiftung Marktwirtschaft]," MPRA Paper 96689, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Dingquan Miao, 2022. "Optimal Labor Income Taxation - The Role of the Skill Distribution," LIS Working papers 823, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    9. Robin Boadway & Jean‐Denis Garon & Louis Perrault, 2019. "Optimal mixed taxation, credit constraints, and the timing of income tax reporting," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 21(4), pages 708-737, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    optimum income taxation; simulations; computational methods;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • C63 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computational Techniques

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