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Reforming Family Taxation in Germany - Labor Supply versus Insurance Effects

Author

Listed:
  • Hans Fehr
  • Manuel Kallweit
  • Fabian Kindermann

Abstract

The present paper quantifies the economic consequences of eliminating the system of income splitting in Germany. We apply a dynamic simulation model with overlapping generations where single and married agents decide on labor supply and homework under income and life-span risk. We compute welfare changes across households and isolate aggregate efficiency effects of a move towards either individual taxation or family splitting. In terms of economic efficiency a switch towards individual taxation performs better than family taxation, due to reduced labor market distortions and improved insurance provision. The efficiency increases even further when individual taxation is combined with a child-splitting factor. Since such a reform also has very favorable distributional consequences, it should be seriously considered in the political debate.

Suggested Citation

  • Hans Fehr & Manuel Kallweit & Fabian Kindermann, 2015. "Reforming Family Taxation in Germany - Labor Supply versus Insurance Effects," FinanzArchiv: Public Finance Analysis, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 71(1), pages 53-81, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:mhr:finarc:urn:sici:0015-2218(201503)71:1_53:rftigl_2.0.tx_2-6
    DOI: 10.1628/001522108X14206439673170
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Bachmann Ronald & Jäger Philipp & Jessen Robin, 2021. "A Split Decision: Welche Auswirkungen hätte die Abschaffung des Ehegattensplittings auf das Arbeitsangebot und die Einkommensverteilung?," Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftspolitik, De Gruyter, vol. 70(2), pages 105-131, August.
    2. Schätzlein, Uwe, 2019. "Ehegattensplitting und negative Arbeitsanreize: Ein mikroökonomischer Ansatz zur Negation der steuerrechtlichen Relevanz," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 244, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    3. Chirvi, Malte, 2019. "Arbeiten Frauen aufgrund des Ehegattensplittings weniger? Eine empirische Untersuchung für Deutschland," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 241, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    4. Tyrowicz, Joanna, 2020. "Are incentivized old-age savings schemes effective under incomplete rationality?," VfS Annual Conference 2020 (Virtual Conference): Gender Economics 224526, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    5. Chirvi, Malte, 2017. "Arbeiten Frauen aufgrund des Ehegattensplittings weniger? Ein quasi-experimenteller Ansatz für Deutschland," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 217, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    6. Joanna Tyrowicz & Krzysztof Makarski & Artur Rutkowski, 2020. "Fiscal incentives to pension savings – are they efficient?," Working Paper series 20-06, Rimini Centre for Economic Analysis.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    stochastic general equilibrium; home production; female labor supply; tax unit choice; insurance provision;
    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
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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