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Labour supply and taxation with restricted choices

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  • Magali Beffy

    (CREST - Centre de Recherche en Économie et Statistique - ENSAI - Ecole Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Analyse de l'Information [Bruz] - X - École polytechnique - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris - ENSAE Paris - École Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Administration Économique - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Richard Blundell

    (UCL - University College of London [London], IFS - Laboratory of the Institute for Fiscal Studies - Institute for Fiscal Studies)

  • Antoine Bozio

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, IFS - Laboratory of the Institute for Fiscal Studies - Institute for Fiscal Studies, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Guy Laroque

    (UCL - University College of London [London], IFS - Laboratory of the Institute for Fiscal Studies - Institute for Fiscal Studies, ECON - Département d'économie (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Maxime Tô

    (UCL - University College of London [London], IFS - Laboratory of the Institute for Fiscal Studies - Institute for Fiscal Studies)

Abstract

A model of labour supply and taxation is developed in which observed hours reflect both the distribution of preferences and restrictions on choices. Hours restrictions are placed in a constrained rational choice setting in which the set of alternative hours on offer is restricted. Choices are made on a random subset of possible hours. We focus on the case where the choice set contains at most two offers. We show that when the choice set distribution is known, preferences can be identified. Conversely we show that, where preferences are known, the choice set distribution can be fully recovered. Conditions for identification of both preferences and the distribution of choice sets are also developed. We illustrate this approach in a labour supply setting with nonlinear budget constraints. Heterogeneity in the budget constraint reveals properties of the choice set. This framework is used to study the labour supply behaviour of a large sample of working age mothers in the UK, accounting for nonlinearities in the tax and welfare benefit system, fixed costs of work and restrictions on hours choices.

Suggested Citation

  • Magali Beffy & Richard Blundell & Antoine Bozio & Guy Laroque & Maxime Tô, 2019. "Labour supply and taxation with restricted choices," SciencePo Working papers Main halshs-01883898, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:spmain:halshs-01883898
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeconom.2018.12.004
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-01883898
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    6. Michael C. Knaus & Steffen Otterbach, 2019. "Work Hour Mismatch And Job Mobility: Adjustment Channels And Resolution Rates," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 57(1), pages 227-242, January.
    7. Hartley, Robert Paul & Lamarche, Carlos, 2018. "Behavioral responses and welfare reform: Evidence from a randomized experiment," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 135-151.
    8. Panos Pashardes & Alexandros Polycarpou, 2015. "A backward-bending and forward-falling semi-log model of labour supply," University of Cyprus Working Papers in Economics 03-2015, University of Cyprus Department of Economics.
    9. Schoefer, Benjamin & Mui, Preston, 2019. "Reservation Raises: The Aggregate Labor Supply Curve at the Extensive Margin," CEPR Discussion Papers 14209, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    10. Kosonen, Tuomas & Matikka, Tuomas, 2020. "Discrete Labor Supply: Empirical Evidence and Implications," Working Papers 132, VATT Institute for Economic Research.
    11. Sören Blomquist, 2023. "Evaluating the Discrete Choice and BN Methods to Estimate Labor Supply Functions," CESifo Working Paper Series 10827, CESifo.
    12. Zanette, Maria Carolina & Scaraboto, Daiane, 2019. "“To Spanx or not to Spanx”: How objects that carry contradictory institutional logics trigger identity conflict for consumers," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 443-453.
    13. Blundell, R. & French, E. & Tetlow, G., 2016. "Retirement Incentives and Labor Supply," Handbook of the Economics of Population Aging, in: Piggott, John & Woodland, Alan (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Population Aging, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 0, pages 457-566, Elsevier.
    14. Key, Tomas & Lenney, Jamie, 2024. "The impact of aggregate fluctuations across the UK income distribution," Bank of England working papers 1083, Bank of England.
    15. Kuan-Ming Chen & Ning Ding & John A. List & Magne Mogstad, 2020. "Reservation Wages and Workers’ Valuation of Job Flexibility: Evidence from a Natural Field Experiment," Working Papers 2020-124, Becker Friedman Institute for Research In Economics.
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    17. Kuan-Ming Chen & Min Ding & John List & Magne Mogstad, 2020. "Reservation Wages and Workers' Valuation of Job Flexibility: Evidence from a Natural Field Experiment," Natural Field Experiments 00715, The Field Experiments Website.
    18. Beckmannshagen, Mattis & Schröder, Carsten, 2022. "Earnings inequality and working hours mismatch," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    19. Tomas Key & Jamie Lenney, 2024. "The Impact of Aggregate Fluctuations Across the UK Income Distribution," Discussion Papers 2430, Centre for Macroeconomics (CFM).
    20. Tuomas Kosonen & Tuomas Matikka, 2023. "Discrete Labor Supply: Quasi-Experimental Evidence and Implications," Working Papers 9, Finnish Centre of Excellence in Tax Systems Research.

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