Konferenzbeitrag
How reliable are incidence estimates based on cross-sectional distributions? Evidence from simulations and linked employer-employee data
The paper validates an empirical approach developed by Alvaredo and Saez (2007) which estimates the economic incidence of social security contributions (SSC) on the basis of cross-sectional earnings distributions. The method utilizes discontinuities at earnings caps where the marginal SSC rate drops. It does not rely on policy reforms, panel data, or hours information. We demonstrate on the basis of simulations that this comes at the cost of ruling out optimization frictions and measurement error destroying identification. Behavioral responses and incidence heterogeneity are secondary problems. Exploiting German linked employer-employee data that provide separate measures of gross and net earnings we find substantial negative discontinuities in net earnings. Together with small, erratic discontinuities in gross earnings this provides consistent empirical evidence that legal and economic incidence of SSC coincide in Germany.
- Sprache
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Englisch
- Erschienen in
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Series: Beiträge zur Jahrestagung des Vereins für Socialpolitik 2015: Ökonomische Entwicklung - Theorie und Politik - Session: Empirical Public Economics ; No. A14-V2
- Klassifikation
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Wirtschaft
Taxation and Subsidies: Incidence
Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs: Public Policy
Social Security and Public Pensions
- Ereignis
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Geistige Schöpfung
- (wer)
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Müller, Kai-Uwe
Neumann, Michael
- Ereignis
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Veröffentlichung
- (wann)
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2015
- Handle
- Letzte Aktualisierung
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20.09.2024, 08:21 MESZ
Datenpartner
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Objekttyp
- Konferenzbeitrag
Beteiligte
- Müller, Kai-Uwe
- Neumann, Michael
Entstanden
- 2015