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Personal income tax progressivity and output volatility: Evidence from OECD countries

Author

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  • Malte Rieth
  • Cristina Checherita-Westphal
  • Maria-Grazia Attinasi

Abstract

This paper investigates empirically the effect of personal income tax progressivity on output volatility using macro data from a sample of OECD countries over the period 19822009. Our measure of progressivity is based on the difference between the marginal and the average personal income tax rate for the average production worker. We find supportive empirical evidence for the hypothesis that higher personal income tax progressivity leads to lower output volatility. This effect comes in addition to the stabilizing impact of government size and it is equally important in economic terms. All other factors constant, countries with more progressive personal income tax systems seem to benefit from stronger automatic stabilizers.

Suggested Citation

  • Malte Rieth & Cristina Checherita-Westphal & Maria-Grazia Attinasi, 2016. "Personal income tax progressivity and output volatility: Evidence from OECD countries," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 49(3), pages 968-996, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:cje:issued:v:49:y:2016:i:3:p:968-996
    DOI: 10.1111/caje.12221
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrew Pickering & Sheraz Rajput, 2018. "Inequality and the composition of taxes," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 25(4), pages 1001-1028, August.
    2. Magda WISNIEWSKA-KUZMA, 2020. "Measurement of personal income tax progressivity in the post-socialist countries of Europe compared to other OECD countries," Eastern Journal of European Studies, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 11, pages 113-131, December.
    3. Michele Gubello & Nora Strecker, 2024. "A Theory of Perverse Redistribution in Higher Education and Income Tax Progressivity in Europe," LIS Working papers 889, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    4. Jakub Borowski & Adam Czerniak & Beáta Farkas, 2023. "Diverse Models of Capitalism and Synchronization of Business Cycles," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 65(4), pages 681-712, December.
    5. Bettoni, Luis G. & Santos, Marcelo, 2023. "Optimal fiscal policy in incomplete market business cycle economies," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 218-226.
    6. Diana Alessandrini, 2021. "Progressive Taxation and Economic Stability," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 123(2), pages 422-452, April.
    7. Gründler, Klaus & Köllner, Sebastian, 2020. "Culture, diversity, and the welfare state," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(4), pages 913-932.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E63 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Comparative or Joint Analysis of Fiscal and Monetary Policy; Stabilization; Treasury Policy

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