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Higher Taxes at the Top: The Role of Entrepreneurs

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  • Bettina Brueggemann

Abstract

This paper computes optimal top marginal tax rates in Bewley- Aiyagari type economies that include entrepreneurs. Consistent with the data,entrepreneurs are over-represented at the top of the income distribution and are thus disproportionately affected by an increase in the top marginal income tax rate. The statutory top marginal tax rate that maximizes welfare is 75 percent and revenue is maximized at 85 percent. While average welfare gains are positive, they are larger for entrepreneurs than for workers and the occupational gap in welfare gains widens with increasing income.

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  • Bettina Brueggemann, 2017. "Higher Taxes at the Top: The Role of Entrepreneurs," Department of Economics Working Papers 2017-16, McMaster University.
    • Handle: RePEc:mcm:deptwp:2017-16
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    Cited by:

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    2. Anmol Bhandari & Serdar Birinci & Ellen R. McGrattan & Kurt See, 2020. "What Do Survey Data Tell Us about US Businesses?," American Economic Review: Insights, American Economic Association, vol. 2(4), pages 443-458, December.
    3. Baris Kaymak & CHEUK SHING LEUNG & Markus Poschke, 2018. "Accounting for the determinants of wealth concentration in the US," 2018 Meeting Papers 911, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    4. Laurence Ales & Antonio Andres Bellofatto & Jessie Jiaxu Wang, 2017. "Taxing Atlas: Executive Compensation, Firm Size and Their Impact on Optimal Top Income Tax Rates," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 26, pages 62-90, October.
    5. Adam Blandin, 2021. "Human Capital And The Social Security Tax Cap," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 62(4), pages 1599-1626, November.
    6. Kaymak, Barıș & Leung, David & Poschke, Markus, 2020. "Accounting for Wealth Concentration in the US," IZA Discussion Papers 13082, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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