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Optimal dynamic tax evasion

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  • Levaggi, Rosella
  • Menoncin, Francesco

Abstract

We study optimal dynamic tax evasion in the framework proposed by Lin and Yang (2001) and Dzhumashev and Gahramanov (2011) with some modifications: a more flexible utility function, a more realistic audit process, and a penalty function which can be defined both on evaded income and evaded taxes. In the former case the elasticity between tax rate and tax evasion is positive, unless the subsistence consumption level is higher than a given threshold. In the latter case the relationship is usually negative , but the value of elasticity depends on the form of absolute risk aversion. In particular we show that for increasing relative risk aversion, for a tax rate higher than 50%, the elasticity may even become positive. US data are consistent with IRRA preferences.

Suggested Citation

  • Levaggi, Rosella & Menoncin, Francesco, 2013. "Optimal dynamic tax evasion," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 37(11), pages 2157-2167.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:dyncon:v:37:y:2013:i:11:p:2157-2167
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jedc.2013.06.007
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    Cited by:

    1. Michele Bernasconi & Rosella Levaggi & Francesco Menoncin, 2020. "Dynamic Tax Evasion with Habit Formation in Consumption," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 122(3), pages 966-992, July.
    2. Francesco Menoncin & Andrea Modena & Luca Regis, 2023. "Dynamic Tax Evasion and Capital Misallocation in General Equilibrium," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2023_453, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.
    3. Domenico De Giovanni & Fabio Lamantia & Mario Pezzino, 2018. "Evolutionary Tax Evasion and Optimal Regulation," Economics Discussion Paper Series 1814, Economics, The University of Manchester.
    4. Rathke, Alex A.T., 2019. "Fuzzy Profit Shifting: A Model for Optimal Tax-induced Transfer Pricing with Fuzzy Arm's Length Parameter," MPRA Paper 91425, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Giovanni, Domenico De & Lamantia, Fabio & Pezzino, Mario, 2019. "A behavioral model of evolutionary dynamics and optimal regulation of tax evasion," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 79-89.
    6. Ali Hussein Samadi & Najmeh Sajedianfard, 2017. "Tax Evasion in Oil-Exporting Countries: The Case of Iran," Iranian Economic Review (IER), Faculty of Economics,University of Tehran.Tehran,Iran, vol. 21(2), pages 241-267, Spring.
    7. Rosella Levaggi & Francesco Menoncin, 2015. "Dynamic Tax Evasion with Audits based on Conspicuous Consumption," Working papers 33, Società Italiana di Economia Pubblica.
    8. Dzhumashev, Ratbek & Levaggi, Rosella & Menoncin, Francesco, 2023. "Optimal tax enforcement with productive public inputs," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    9. Gamannossi degl’Innocenti, Duccio & Rablen, Matthew D., 2020. "Tax evasion on a social network," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 79-91.
    10. Francesco Menoncin & Andrea Modena & Luca Regis, 2022. "Dynamic Tax Evasion and Capital Misallocation in General Equilibrium," Carlo Alberto Notebooks 679 JEL Classification: E, Collegio Carlo Alberto.
    11. Francesco Menoncin & Stefano Nembrini, 2018. "Stochastic continuous time growth models that allow for closed form solutions," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 124(3), pages 213-241, July.
    12. Gamannossi degl’Innocenti, Duccio & Levaggi, Rosella & Menoncin, Francesco, 2022. "Tax avoidance and evasion in a dynamic setting," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 443-456.
    13. Dzhumashev Ratbek, 2016. "The Role of Income Uncertainty in the Corruption–Growth Nexus," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 16(2), pages 1169-1201, April.
    14. Levaggi, Rosella & Menoncin, Francesco, 2016. "Optimal dynamic tax evasion: A portfolio approach," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 115-129.
    15. Rathke, Alex A.T., 2019. "Fuzzy Profit Shifting: A Model for Optimal Tax-induced Transfer Pricing with Fuzzy Arm's Length Parameter," EconStor Preprints 191027, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    16. Rosella Levaggi & Francesco Menoncin, 2016. "Dynamic tax evasion with audits based on visible consumption," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 119(2), pages 131-146, October.
    17. Alex A. T. Rathke, 2019. "Fuzzy Profit Shifting: A Model for Optimal Tax-induced Transfer Pricing with Fuzzy Arm's Length Parameter," Papers 1901.03843, arXiv.org.
    18. Bethencourt, Carlos & Kunze, Lars, 2020. "Social norms and economic growth in a model with labor and capital income tax evasion," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 170-182.
    19. Bernasconi, Michele & Levaggi, Rosella & Menoncin, Francesco, 2015. "Tax evasion and uncertainty in a dynamic context," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 171-175.
    20. Gaetano T. Spartà & Gabriele Stabile, 2018. "Tax compliance with uncertain income: a stochastic control model," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 261(1), pages 289-301, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Optimal dynamic tax evasion; Tax rates;

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • H42 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Publicly Provided Private Goods

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