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Dynamic Nonlinear Income Taxation with Quasi-Hyperbolic Discounting and No Commitment

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  • Jang-Ting Guo
  • Alan Krause

Abstract

This paper examines a dynamic model of nonlinear income taxation in which the government cannot commit to its future tax policy, and individuals are quasi-hyperbolic discounters who cannot commit to future consumption plans. The government uses its taxation powers to maximise a utilitarian social welfare function which reflects individuals' true (long-run) preferences. Under first-best taxation, quasi-hyperbolic discounting has no effect on the level of social welfare attainable. Under second-best taxation, quasi-hyperbolic discounting increases (resp. decreases) the level of social welfare attainable when separating (resp. pooling) taxation is optimal. The effects of quasi-hyperbolic discounting on the optimal marginal tax rates applicable to labour and savings income are also explored.

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  • Jang-Ting Guo & Alan Krause, "undated". "Dynamic Nonlinear Income Taxation with Quasi-Hyperbolic Discounting and No Commitment," Discussion Papers 11/16, Department of Economics, University of York.
    • Handle: RePEc:yor:yorken:11/16
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    Cited by:

    1. Jang-Ting Guo & Alan Krause, 2018. "Changing social preferences and optimal redistributive taxation," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 70(1), pages 73-92.
    2. Barnett, Richard C. & Bhattacharya, Joydeep & Bunzel, Helle, 2019. "The fight-or-flight response to the Joneses and inequality," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 187-210.
    3. Choi, Yoonseok, 2020. "Macroeconomic implications of dynamically inconsistent preferences," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 267-279.
    4. Minwook Kang, 2019. "Pareto-improving tax policies under hyperbolic discounting," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 26(3), pages 618-660, June.
    5. Alan Krause, 2017. "On redistributive taxation under the threat of high-skill emigration," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 48(4), pages 845-856, April.
    6. Guo, Jang-Ting & Krause, Alan, 2015. "Dynamic income taxation without commitment: Comparing alternative tax systems," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 319-326.
    7. Aronsson, Thomas & Sjögren, Tomas, 2018. "Optimal Taxation, Redistribution, and Environmental Externalities," International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics, now publishers, vol. 11(3), pages 233-308, August.
    8. Chen, Yunmin & Guo, Jang-Ting & Krause, Alan, 2020. "The credibility of commitment and optimal nonlinear savings taxation," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    9. Barnett, Richard C. & Bhattacharya, Joydeep & Bunzel, Helle, 2018. "The Fight-or-Flight Response to the Joneses and Income Inequality," ISU General Staff Papers 201812120800001060, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    10. Carlos Bethencourt & Lars Kunze, 2017. "Temptation and the efficient taxation of education and labor," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 68(4), pages 986-1000, November.
    11. Kang, Minwook, 2020. "Demand deposit contracts and bank runs with present biased preferences," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    12. Arvaniti, Maria & Sjögren, Tomas, 2023. "Temptation in consumption and optimal taxation," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 687-707.
    13. Aronsson, Thomas & Sjögren, Tomas, 2016. "Quasi-hyperbolic discounting, paternalism and optimal mixed taxation," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 24-36.
    14. Shigeta, Yuki, 2022. "Quasi-hyperbolic discounting under recursive utility and consumption–investment decisions," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    15. Kang, Minwook & Kim, Eungsik, 2023. "A government policy with time-inconsistent consumers," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 44-67.
    16. Minwook Kang & Lei Sandy Ye, 2021. "Can Optimism be a Remedy for Present Bias?," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 53(1), pages 201-231, February.
    17. Kim, Eungsik & Lee, Donghyun, 2023. "The macroeconomic implications of deficit financing under present bias," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    18. Minwook Kang, 2015. "Welfare criteria for quasi-hyperbolic time preferences," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 35(4), pages 2506-2511.
    19. Shigeo Morita & Takuya Obara, 2021. "Public investment criteria under optimal nonlinear income taxation without commitment," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 23(4), pages 732-745, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    dynamic taxation; quasi-hyperbolic discounting; commitment.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies

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