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Taxing top incomes in the emerging world: Economic impact under the microscope

Author

Listed:
  • Christopher Axelson
  • Antonia Hohmann
  • Jukka Pirttilä
  • Roxanne Raabe
  • Nadine Riedel

Abstract

Rising levels of income inequality and tight government budgets have spurred discussions in many developing nations about how to appropriately tax high-income earners. In this paper, we study taxpayer responses to an increase in the top marginal tax rate in South Africa, drawing on exceptionally rich tax administrative data and a transparent empirical identification design. We establish that treated taxpayers strongly reduce their reported taxable income in response to the tax reform. Taxpayers' responses are driven by both reductions in broad income and increases in tax deductions.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher Axelson & Antonia Hohmann & Jukka Pirttilä & Roxanne Raabe & Nadine Riedel, 2024. "Taxing top incomes in the emerging world: Economic impact under the microscope," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2024-37, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2024-37
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Owen Zidar, 2019. "Tax Cuts for Whom? Heterogeneous Effects of Income Tax Changes on Growth and Employment," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 127(3), pages 1437-1472.
    2. Slemrod, Joel, 1995. "Income Creation or Income Shifting? Behavioral Responses to the Tax Reform Act of 1986," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 85(2), pages 175-180, May.
    3. Barro, Robert J. & Lee, Jong Wha, 2013. "A new data set of educational attainment in the world, 1950–2010," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 184-198.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Income inequality; Taxable income; South Africa; Tax reform; Top incomes;
    All these keywords.

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