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Optimal taxation, critical-level utilitarianism and economic growth

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  • Luca Spataro

    (University of Pisa)

  • Thomas I. Renstroem

    (Durham Business School)

Abstract

In this work we analyze the issue of taxation in an intertemporal economy with endogenous fertility under critical-level utilitarianism, both from a positive and normative standpoint. On the positive side we analyse the effects of a change in the tax on capital income and on the population size, both separately and in a policy aiming at maintaining per-capita debt constant. On the normative side, we characterize the first-best and second- best optimal tax structures both when labour supply is exogenous and endogenous.

Suggested Citation

  • Luca Spataro & Thomas I. Renstroem, 2010. "Optimal taxation, critical-level utilitarianism and economic growth," Working Papers 2010_06, Durham University Business School.
    • Handle: RePEc:dur:durham:2010_06
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    Cited by:

    1. Spataro, Luca & Fanti, Luciano & Pacini, Pier Mario, 2019. "Saving, fertility and public policy in an overlapping generations small open economy," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 16-29.
    2. Thomas I. Renström & Luca Spataro, 2015. "Population Growth and Human Capital: A Welfarist Approach," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 83, pages 110-141, December.
    3. Thomas Renstrom & Luca Spataro, 2015. "An analysis on optimal taxation and on policy changes in an endogenous growth model with public expenditure," Public Finance Research Papers 12, Istituto di Economia e Finanza, DSGE, Sapienza University of Rome.
    4. Petrucci, Alberto, 2015. "Optimal income taxation in models with endogenous fertility," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 216-225.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Taxation; endogenous fertility; critical level utilitarianism; population.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General

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