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Optimal Labour Income Taxation in Poland: The Case of High-Income Earners

Author

Listed:
  • Maciej Dudek
  • Paweł Dudek
  • Konrad Walczyk

Abstract

In this paper, we use actual data provided by the Polish tax authority and characterise the properties of income distribution in Poland in the case of high-income earners. By employing a variety of techniques we are able to confirm that the distribution of income in Poland can be approximated with a Pareto distribution in its upper tail. This finding makes the formula for the optimal marginal tax rates of Saez [2001] applicable to the Polish case and allows us to provide estimates of the optimal marginal tax rates for Poland. We show that the current tax policy in Poland is not optimal. Specifically, we show, by relying on empirically viable estimates of the elasticity of the labour supply with respect to the wage, that the optimal marginal tax rate at high income levels exceeds 60%. In other words, we suggest that there is room for a welfare-improving reform in Poland, and we argue that high-income individuals should be expected to contribute substantially more at the margin than they currently do.

Suggested Citation

  • Maciej Dudek & Paweł Dudek & Konrad Walczyk, 2023. "Optimal Labour Income Taxation in Poland: The Case of High-Income Earners," Gospodarka Narodowa. The Polish Journal of Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, issue 1, pages 41-65.
    • Handle: RePEc:sgh:gosnar:y:2023:i:1:p:41-65
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    social welfare; economic efficiency; Pareto distribution; optimal taxation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies

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