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Distortionary taxation, international business cycles and real wage: explaining some puzzling facts

Author

Listed:
  • Francois Langot

    (GAINS-TEPP (Université du Maine))

  • Coralia Quintero-Rojas

    (Department of Economics and Finance, Universidad de Guanajuato)

Abstract

In this paper, we show that fluctuations in distortive taxes can account for most puzzling features of the U.S. economy. Namely, the observed real wage rigidity, the international correlation of investment and labor inputs, and the so-called quantity puzzle (according to which cross-country correlation of outputs is higher than the one of consumptions). This is done in a two-country search and matching model with fairly standard separable preferences, extended to include a tax/benefit system.

Suggested Citation

  • Francois Langot & Coralia Quintero-Rojas, 2010. "Distortionary taxation, international business cycles and real wage: explaining some puzzling facts," Department of Economics and Finance Working Papers EC201002, Universidad de Guanajuato, Department of Economics and Finance.
    • Handle: RePEc:gua:wpaper:ec201002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Distortive taxes; real wage rigidity; international business cycles; search; matching;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • J41 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Labor Contracts

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