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Old-age Social Security versus Forward Intergenerational Public Goods Provision

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  • Ryo Arawatari
  • Tetsuo Ono

Abstract

type="main"> This paper introduces an overlapping-generations model with earnings heterogeneity and borrowing constraints. The labour income tax and the allocation of tax revenue between social security and forward intergenerational public goods are determined in a bidimensional majoritarian voting game played by successive generations. The political equilibrium is characterized by an ends-against-the-middle equilibrium where low-income and high-income individuals form a coalition in favour of a lower tax rate and less social security while middle-income individuals favour a higher tax rate and greater social security. Government spending then shifts from social security to public goods provision if higher wage inequality is associated with a borrowing constraint and a high elasticity of marginal utility of youth consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • Ryo Arawatari & Tetsuo Ono, 2014. "Old-age Social Security versus Forward Intergenerational Public Goods Provision," The Japanese Economic Review, Japanese Economic Association, vol. 65(3), pages 282-315, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jecrev:v:65:y:2014:i:3:p:282-315
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    1. Ono, Tetsuo & Uchida, Yuki, 2016. "Pensions, education, and growth: A positive analysis," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 127-143.

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