Arbeitspapier

Insurance, redistribution, and the inequality of lifetime income

In this paper, we study how the tax-and-transfer system reduces the inequality of lifetime income by redistributing lifetime earnings between individuals with different skill endowments and by providing individuals with insurance against lifetime earnings risk. Based on a dynamic life-cycle model, we find that redistribution through the tax-and-transfer system offsets around half of the inequality in lifetime earnings that is due to differences in skill endowments. At the same time, taxes and transfers mitigate around 60% of the inequality in lifetime earnings that is attributable to employment and health risk. Progressive taxation of annual earnings provides little insurance against lifetime earnings risk. The lifetime insurance effects of taxation may be improved by moving to a progressive tax on lifetime earnings. Similarly, the lifetime insurance and redistributive effects of social assistance may be improved by requiring wealthy individuals to repay any social assistance received when younger.

Language
Englisch

Bibliographic citation
Series: DIW Discussion Papers ; No. 1716

Classification
Wirtschaft
Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
Taxation and Subsidies: Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
Education and Inequality
Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty: Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
Time Allocation and Labor Supply
Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
Subject
lifetime earnings
lifetime income
tax-and-transfer system
taxation
unemployment insurance
disability benefits
social assistance
inequality
redistribution
insurance
endowments
risk
dynamic life-cycle models

Event
Geistige Schöpfung
(who)
Haan, Peter
Kemptner, Daniel
Prowse, Victoria
Event
Veröffentlichung
(who)
Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW)
(where)
Berlin
(when)
2017

Handle
Last update
10.03.2025, 11:45 AM CET

Data provider

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Object type

  • Arbeitspapier

Associated

  • Haan, Peter
  • Kemptner, Daniel
  • Prowse, Victoria
  • Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW)

Time of origin

  • 2017

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