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Growth, Death, and Taxes

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Lutz Hendricks () (Arizona State University)

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Abstract

The literature on the growth effects of flat rate taxes focuses entirely on models with infinite horizons and constant returns to private inputs in human capital accumulation. In contrast, the traditional human capital literature assumes finite lifetimes and, based on microeconomic evidence, diminishing returns. Since human capital is not heritable, the infinite horizon framework cannot, in general, be justified as a reduced form of an overlapping generations model; it represents an approximation of unknown accuracy. This paper shows that abstracting from finite lives and diminishing returns makes an important difference for the growth effect of taxation, even if there is an operative bequest motive. Except in a knife-edge case, the growth effects of taxation become small (and may go to zero) as lifetimes get long, suggesting that infinite horizons may be a terrible approximation for long, finite horizons.

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Paper provided by Arizona State University, Department of Economics in its series Working Papers with number 97/7.

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Handle: RePEc:wop:astewp:9707

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Related research
Keywords: Economic growth human capital taxation.

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
O41 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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  1. John Laitner, 1993. "Long-Run Growth and Human Capital," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 26(4), pages 796-814, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  2. Mulligan, Casey B & Sala-i-Martin, Xavier, 1993. "Transitional Dynamics in Two-Sector Models of Endogenous Growth," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, vol. 108(3), pages 739-73, August. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  3. Gregory Mankiw, 1995. "The Growth of Nations," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 26(1995-1), pages 275-326. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  4. Hendricks, Lutz A., 2004. "Taxation and Long-Run Growth," Staff General Research Papers 11933, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    Other versions:
  5. Easterly, William & Rebelo, Sergio, 1993. "Fiscal policy and economic growth: An empirical investigation," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 417-458, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  6. Heckman, James J, 1976. "A Life-Cycle Model of Earnings, Learning, and Consumption," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 84(4), pages S11-44, August. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  7. Perroni, Carlo, 1995. "Assessing the Dynamic Efficiency Gains of Tax Reform When Human Capital Is Endogenous," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 36(4), pages 907-25, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  12. Jovanovic, Boyan & Nyarko, Yaw, 1995. "The transfer of human capital," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 19(5-7), pages 1033-1064. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  13. Stokey, Nancy L & Rebelo, Sergio, 1995. "Growth Effects of Flat-Rate Taxes," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 103(3), pages 519-50, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  14. Welch, F, 1970. "Education in Production," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 78(1), pages 35-59, Jan.-Feb.. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  15. Jones, Larry E & Manuelli, Rodolfo E & Rossi, Peter E, 1993. "Optimal Taxation in Models of Endogenous Growth," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 101(3), pages 485-517, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  17. Mark Bils & Peter J. Klenow, 2000. "Does Schooling Cause Growth?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 90(5), pages 1160-1183, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  18. Barro, Robert J, 1974. "Are Government Bonds Net Wealth?," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 82(6), pages 1095-1117, Nov.-Dec.. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  21. Lucas, Robert E, Jr, 1990. "Supply-Side Economics: An Analytical Review," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 42(2), pages 293-316, April. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  22. Benabou, R., 1996. "Inequality and Growth," Working Papers 96-22, C.V. Starr Center for Applied Economics, New York University. [Downloadable!]
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  23. King, Robert G & Rebelo, Sergio, 1990. "Public Policy and Economic Growth: Developing Neoclassical Implications," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 98(5), pages S126-50, October. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  24. Trostel, Philip A, 1993. "The Effect of Taxation on Human Capital," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 101(2), pages 327-50, April. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  25. Rangazas, Peter C, 1996. "Fiscal Policy and Endogenous Growth in a Bequest-Constrained Economy," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 48(1), pages 52-74, January. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Hendricks, Lutz, . "Taxation and Long-Run Growth," Working Papers 96/2, Arizona State University, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
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