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A characteristics approach to optimal taxation: line drawing and tax-driven product innovation

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  • Gillitzer, Christian
  • Kleven, Henrik Jacobsen
  • Slemrod, Joel

Abstract

Real-world tax legislation assigns goods to different categories of tax rates on the basis of observable characteristics, allowing the tax system to handle a constantly evolving set of available goods. We recast the theory of optimal taxation in the language of characteristics, and we show how to optimally draw lines that delineate tax-rate regimes. Such lines are associated with notches in tax liability as a function of characteristics, creating incentives to introduce goods with new combinations of characteristics in order to reduce tax liability. With a restricted set of tax instruments, such notches are in general part of the second-best optimal tax system.

Suggested Citation

  • Gillitzer, Christian & Kleven, Henrik Jacobsen & Slemrod, Joel, 2017. "A characteristics approach to optimal taxation: line drawing and tax-driven product innovation," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 69821, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:69821
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    Cited by:

    1. David R. Agrawal & William F. Fox, 2021. "Taxing Goods and Services in a Digital Era," National Tax Journal, University of Chicago Press, vol. 74(1), pages 257-301.
    2. Traxler, Christian & Westermaier, Franz G. & Wohlschlegel, Ansgar, 2018. "Bunching on the Autobahn? Speeding responses to a ‘notched’ penalty scheme," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 78-94.
    3. Boadway, Robin & Cuff, Katherine, 2022. "A generalization of the Deaton-Hellwig results on uniform commodity taxation," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    tax design; notches;

    JEL classification:

    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation

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