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Optimal taxation and risk sharing

Author

Listed:
  • Hamish Low

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies and University of Oxford & Nuffield College)

  • Daniel Maldoom

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies)

Abstract

This paper analyses the trade-off between the incentive effects of increased uncertainty and the welfare benefits of risk-sharing in the design of optimal tax schedules. We use numerical methods to characterise the tax schedule and to give comparative static results of changing risk aversion, uncertainty and the cost of effort. Increased uncertainty may increase effort for precautionary reasons, but leads to greater risk sharing in the optimal tax schedule. Similarly, a reduced cost of effort leads to greater risk sharing. Incentives to work are induced through punishment at low output realisations if risk aversion is high, and through reward of high output if risk aversion is low. We also consider introducing extra randomisation into the rax schedule to further incentivise individuals. This is only optimal if the form of the tax schedule is constrained, for example to be linear.

Suggested Citation

  • Hamish Low & Daniel Maldoom, 2000. "Optimal taxation and risk sharing," IFS Working Papers W00/01, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
  • Handle: RePEc:ifs:ifsewp:00/01
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    File URL: http://www.ifs.org.uk/wps/wp0001.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Anderberg, Dan & Andersson, Fredrik, 2003. "Investments in human capital, wage uncertainty, and public policy," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(7-8), pages 1521-1537, August.
    2. Cornelia Luchsinger & Adrian Müller, 2003. "Incentive Compatible Extraction of Natural Resource Rent," CEPE Working paper series 03-21, CEPE Center for Energy Policy and Economics, ETH Zurich.

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