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Quantifying the Redistributive Effect of the Erosion of the Italian Personal Income Tax Base: A Microsimulation Exercise

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  • Stefano Boscolo

Abstract

In recent years several sources of income have been excluded from the Italian Personal Income Tax (PIT) base and subject to alternative proportional systems or totally exempt from taxation. These changes have contributed to making PIT even more selective, accentuating vertical equity issues that have accompanied it since it was introduced in 1974. The aim of this paper is to calculate the redistributive effect following the erosion of the PIT base and the contribution of this phenomenon in determing the redistributive power of the Italian tax system, as well as the distribution of the fiscal benefits and burdens by deciles of income under the alternative tax rules considered. Using a static microsimulation model, the paper compares various versions of the tax system within a counterfactual logic: on the one hand, the existing legislation as of 2014 consisting of PIT and those incomes subject to substitute taxes or tax-free in this study; on the other hand, an hypothetical legislation which takes as a reference point the Comprehensive Income Tax (CIT) scheme and includes in its base all incomes replicated. The results demonstrate that the erosion of the PIT base has reduced the redistributive effect and the progressive nature of the Italian tax system.

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  • Stefano Boscolo, 2019. "Quantifying the Redistributive Effect of the Erosion of the Italian Personal Income Tax Base: A Microsimulation Exercise," ECONOMIA PUBBLICA, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2019(2), pages 39-80.
    • Handle: RePEc:fan:epepep:v:html10.3280/ep2019-002003
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    Cited by:

    1. Giovanni Gallo, 2021. "Regional Support for the National Government: Joint Effects of Minimum Income Schemes in Italy," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 7(1), pages 149-185, March.
    2. Stefano Boscolo & Giovanni Gallo, 2021. "The Struggle of Being Poor and Claimant: Evidence on the Non-Take-Up of Social Policies in Italy," Center for the Analysis of Public Policies (CAPP) 0174, Universita di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Dipartimento di Economia "Marco Biagi".
    3. Bavaro, Michele & Boscolo, Stefano & Tedeschi, Simone, 2024. "Simulating Long-Run Wealth Distribution and Transmission: The Role of Intergenerational Transfers," INET Oxford Working Papers 2024-01, Institute for New Economic Thinking at the Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford.
    4. Boscolo, Stefano, 2019. "The contribution of proportional taxes and tax-free cash benefits to income redistribution over the period 2005-2018: Evidence from Italy," EUROMOD Working Papers EM18/19, EUROMOD at the Institute for Social and Economic Research.
    5. Stefano Boscolo, 2020. "On the Horizontal Inequity Effect of the Erosion of the PIT Base: The Case of Italy," Department of Economics (DEMB) 0176, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Economics "Marco Biagi".
    6. Stefano Boscolo, 2020. "On the Horizontal Inequity Effect of the Erosion of the PIT Base: The Case of Italy," Department of Economics 0176, University of Modena and Reggio E., Faculty of Economics "Marco Biagi".
    7. Stefano Boscolo, 2022. "The contribution of tax-benefit instruments to income redistribution in Italy," ECONOMIA PUBBLICA, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2022(2), pages 181-231.
    8. Stefano Boscolo, 2019. "The Contribution of Proportional Taxes and Tax-Free Cash Benefits to Income Redistribution over the Period 2005-2018: Evidence from Italy," Department of Economics 0152, University of Modena and Reggio E., Faculty of Economics "Marco Biagi".

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    JEL classification:

    • D3 - Microeconomics - - Distribution
    • H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue

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