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Is the Elasticity of Taxable Income Mostly an Income Effect?

Author

Listed:
  • Xavier Dufour
  • Pierre-Carl Michaud
  • Michael Smart

Abstract

We use variation in marginal tax rates and in tax bracket thresholds at which they apply in order to identify the substitution and income effects of tax reforms. We use a triple-difference estimator that exploits variation from subnational tax reforms, for which behavioral responses to taxes are identified even in the presence of unobservable shocks to the income distribution. While high-income taxpayers respond more to tax changes, our results suggest this reflects much more the income or salience effects of tax reforms, rather than inherent heterogeneity in substitution effects. We discuss the implications for optimal redistributive tax policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Xavier Dufour & Pierre-Carl Michaud & Michael Smart, 2025. "Is the Elasticity of Taxable Income Mostly an Income Effect?," CESifo Working Paper Series 11693, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_11693
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    income and substitution effects; tax salience; optimal progressivity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • 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

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