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Redistributive Capital Taxation Revisited

Author

Listed:
  • Özlem Kina
  • Ctirad Slavík
  • Hakki Yazici

Abstract

This paper uses a rich quantitative model with endogenous skill acquisition to show that capital-skill complementarity provides a quantitatively significant rationale to tax capital for redistributive governments. The optimal capital income tax rate is 67 percent, while it is 61 percent in an identically calibrated model without capital-skill complementarity. The skill premium falls from 1.9 to 1.84 along the transition following the optimal reform in the capital-skill complementarity model, implying substantial indirect redistribution from skilled to unskilled workers. These results show that a redistributive government should take into account capital-skill complementarity when taxing capital.

Suggested Citation

  • Özlem Kina & Ctirad Slavík & Hakki Yazici, 2024. "Redistributive Capital Taxation Revisited," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 16(2), pages 182-216, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejmac:v:16:y:2024:i:2:p:182-216
    DOI: 10.1257/mac.20200395
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mendoza, Enrique G. & Razin, Assaf & Tesar, Linda L., 1994. "Effective tax rates in macroeconomics: Cross-country estimates of tax rates on factor incomes and consumption," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 297-323, December.
    2. ., 2023. "Elements for the analysis of economic decisions," Chapters, in: Decisions, Preferences, and Heuristics, chapter 4, pages 67-151, Edward Elgar Publishing.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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