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Labor Tax Reform and Equilibrium Unemployment : A Search and Matching Approach

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  • Heijdra, B.J.
  • Ligthart, J.E.

    (Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management)

Abstract

The paper studies simple strategies of labor tax reform in a search and matching model of the labor market featuring endogenous labor supply. Changing the composition of the tax wedge---that is, reducing a payroll tax and increasing a progressive wage tax such that the marginal tax wedge remains unaffected---increases employment, reduces the equilibrium unemployment rate, and increases public revenue as long as workers do not have all the bargaining power in wage negotiations. A strategy of replacing employment taxes by payroll taxes increases employment and reduces the equilibrium unemployment rate, while the effect on public revenue is ambiguous.
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Suggested Citation

  • Heijdra, B.J. & Ligthart, J.E., 2004. "Labor Tax Reform and Equilibrium Unemployment : A Search and Matching Approach," Other publications TiSEM c721c9c5-9be5-446d-9dfb-4, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    • Handle: RePEc:tiu:tiutis:c721c9c5-9be5-446d-9dfb-40fb359263b8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    8. Pissarides, Christopher A., 1998. "The impact of employment tax cuts on unemployment and wages; The role of unemployment benefits and tax structure," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 155-183, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Koskela, Erkki & Schöb, Ronnie, 2007. "How Tax Progression Affects Effort and Employment," IZA Discussion Papers 2861, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J3 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs
    • J68 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Public Policy

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