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Endogenous altruism and long term care policies in a Mirrleesian setting

Author

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  • Helmuth Cremer

    (TSE-R - Toulouse School of Economics - UT Capitole - Université Toulouse Capitole - UT - Université de Toulouse - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

  • Firouz Gahvari

    (UIUC - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign [Urbana] - University of Illinois System)

Abstract

This study contributes to the long-term care policy literature by exploring how, in an uncertain environment, redistributive tax policies and long-term care program design interact with informal care incentives, shaping long-term caregiving outcomes. The analysis is done within an overlapping-generations model in the steady state under full and asymetric information. Altruistic children provide informal care to their elderly parents if dependent. Not all children are altruistic. Children's level of altruism is shaped by the time and attention they received in childhood. Key findings, under asymetric information, include: (i) Allocations are distorted for redistributive purposes, except for savings, (ii) marginal income tax rates are positive, aligning with standard nonlinear income taxation models, and (iii) a consequence of government's redistributive policies is to encourage time spent with children thus incresing family caregiving. These three findings apply to both "opting out" and "topping up" schemes. (iv) Savings must be subsidized in an opting out system due to fiscal externalities; (v) if public assistance carries a stigma, it may have to be distorted upward; the opting-out policy welfare dominates the topping-up policy. Finally, if long term care provision carries no stigma, opting out is more cost-effective than topping up in both first- and second-best.

Suggested Citation

  • Helmuth Cremer & Firouz Gahvari, 2025. "Endogenous altruism and long term care policies in a Mirrleesian setting," Working Papers hal-04991040, HAL.
  • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-04991040
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-04991040v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chiara Canta & Helmuth Cremer, 2021. "Opting out and topping up reconsidered: Informal care under uncertain altruism," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 54(1), pages 259-283, February.
    2. Daniel Barczyk & Matthias Kredler, 2019. "Long‐Term Care Across Europe and the United States: The Role of Informal and Formal Care," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(3), pages 329-373, September.
    3. Chiara Canta & Helmuth Cremer, 2023. "Asymmetric information, strategic transfers, and the design of long-term care policies," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 75(1), pages 117-141.
    4. Daniel Barczyk & Matthias Kredler, 2018. "Evaluating Long-Term-Care Policy Options, Taking the Family Seriously," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 85(2), pages 766-809.
    5. Cremer Helmuth & Gahvari Firouz & Pestieau Pierre, 2013. "Endogenous Altruism, Redistribution, and Long-Term Care," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 14(2), pages 499-524, July.
    6. Bonsang, Eric, 2009. "Does informal care from children to their elderly parents substitute for formal care in Europe?," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 143-154, January.
    7. Cremer, Helmuth & Gahvari, Firouz & Pestieau, Pierre, 2017. "Uncertain altruism and the provision of long term care," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 12-24.
    8. Justina Klimaviciute & Sergio Perelman & Pierre Pestieau & Jerome Schoenmaeckers, 2017. "Caring for dependent parents: Altruism, exchange or family norm?," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 30(3), pages 835-873, July.
    9. Canta, Chiara & Cremer, Helmuth, 2019. "Long-term care policy with nonlinear strategic bequests," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 548-566.
    10. Bolin, K. & Lindgren, B. & Lundborg, P., 2008. "Your next of kin or your own career?: Caring and working among the 50+ of Europe," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 27(3), pages 718-738, May.
    11. Éric Bonsang & J. Schoenmaeckers, 2015. "Long-term care insurance and the family: Does the availability of potential caregivers substitute for long-term care insurance?," Post-Print hal-03810705, HAL.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Long term care; Uncertain altruism; Opting out; Topping up; Public insurance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • H5 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies

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