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Inequality, Debt Dynamics and the Incidence of Tax Rates: Addressing Macroeconomic Instability in a Post Keynesian Model

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  • Clara Zanon Brenck

    (Department of Economics, New School for Social Research)

Abstract

This paper explores different tax regimes in a Post-Keynesian model where workers get into debt to emulate the consumption of upper-income classes. The government taxes income to fund a social wage that would reduce workers’ need to get into debt. Three tax regimes are analyzed: taxing profits, managers’ wages, or both. In a numerical exercise, we explore the effects of changing the within-wage and functional inequalities. The government’s income tax choices and the distribution of the wage bill matter for the sustainability of the economy and for the relation between distribution and growth. Taxing only profits and reducing wage inequality is the best possible outcome if we were to wind down the unsustainability feature of Neoliberalism without sacrificing real performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Clara Zanon Brenck, 2022. "Inequality, Debt Dynamics and the Incidence of Tax Rates: Addressing Macroeconomic Instability in a Post Keynesian Model," Working Papers 2212, New School for Social Research, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:new:wpaper:2212
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Inequality; debt dynamics; tax regime; sustainable growth;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • E12 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - Keynes; Keynesian; Post-Keynesian; Modern Monetary Theory
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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