Flat Income Taxation, Redistribution and Labour Market Performance

Abstract: A flat tax rate on labour income has gained popularity in European countries. This paper assesses the attractiveness of such a flat tax in achieving redistributive objectives with the smallest distortions to employment. We do so by using a detailed applied general equilibrium model for the Netherlands. The model is empirically grounded in the data and encompasses decisions on hours worked, labour force participation, skill formation, wage bargaining between unions and firms, and a wide variety of institutional details. The simulations suggest that the replacement of the current tax system in the Netherlands by a flat rate will harm labour market performance if aggregate income inequality is contained. Only flat tax reforms that reduce redistribution will raise employment. This finding bolsters the notions from optimal tax literature regarding the equity-efficiency trade off and the superiority of non-linear taxes to obtain redistributive goals in an efficient way

Standort
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
Umfang
Online-Ressource
Sprache
Englisch
Anmerkungen
Postprint
begutachtet (peer reviewed)
In: Applied Economics ; 42 (2009) 25 ; 3209-3220

Klassifikation
Wirtschaft

Ereignis
Veröffentlichung
(wo)
Mannheim
(wann)
2009
Urheber
Mooij, Ruud de
Jacobs, Bas
Folmer, Kees

DOI
10.1080/00036840802112356
URN
urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-242000
Rechteinformation
Open Access unbekannt; Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
Letzte Aktualisierung
14.08.2025, 11:01 MESZ

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Beteiligte

  • Mooij, Ruud de
  • Jacobs, Bas
  • Folmer, Kees

Entstanden

  • 2009

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