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Majority Choice of Taxation and Redistribution in a Federation

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  • Stephen Calabrese
  • Dennis Epple
  • Richard Romano

Abstract

We provide a model with a federal government and multiple local governments, the former with power to levy an income tax for redistribution, and the latter choosing a local income tax, property tax, lump-sum tax or subsidy, and a local public good. Policy is set by majority choice at each tier of government by households that differ by income and ability to move across communities. We provide sufficient conditions for existence of equilibrium and examine its properties. Central findings are federal income distribution, little local redistribution, and local preference for property taxation over income taxation to fund local public goods.

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  • Stephen Calabrese & Dennis Epple & Richard Romano, 2018. "Majority Choice of Taxation and Redistribution in a Federation," NBER Working Papers 25099, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:25099
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    JEL classification:

    • H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • H7 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations
    • H71 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue

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