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Fair optimal tax with endogenous productivities

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  • Fleurbaey, M.
  • Valletta, G.

    (Microeconomics & Public Economics)

Abstract

What is a good incentive-compatible policy when one wants to respect individual choices of labor and human capital but eliminate inequalities due to unequal access to human capital and different returns to human capital, and when earnings and human capital expenditures are the only verifiable variables? We propose a social ordering that incorporates this goal and we analyze the evaluation of tax reforms and the properties of optimal linear and non-linear taxes. For reform evaluation and for optimal non-linear taxation, the focus is on the situation of individuals with the most disadvantaged characteristics who work full time and spend a certain (high) amount in human capital.

Suggested Citation

  • Fleurbaey, M. & Valletta, G., 2013. "Fair optimal tax with endogenous productivities," Research Memorandum 024, Maastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE).
    • Handle: RePEc:unm:umagsb:2013024
    DOI: 10.26481/umagsb.2013024
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    Cited by:

    1. Pertti Haaparanta & Ravi Kanbur & Tuuli Paukkeri & Jukka Pirttilä & Matti Tuomala, 2022. "Promoting education under distortionary taxation: equality of opportunity versus welfarism," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 20(2), pages 281-297, June.
    2. Flaviana Palmisano & Ida Petrillo, 2022. "A general rank‐dependent approach for distributional comparisons," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 24(2), pages 380-409, April.
    3. Aitor Calo-Blanco, 2022. "Fair income tax with endogenous productivities and a fresh start," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 20(2), pages 395-420, June.

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