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Tax morale, tax compliance and the optimal tax policy

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  • Gaetano Lisi

Abstract

This paper incorporates the positive relationship between tax compliance and tax morale into the social welfare function and derives the optimal tax policy in the presence of honest taxpayers and tax evaders. The right mix of policy instruments of deterrence for clamping down on tax evasion depends on taxpayersù morality. Monitoring turns out to be an effective tool for controlling illegal activities, thus a tighter audit is recommended in any case. For honest taxpayers, this increase in monitoring should be offset by tax reductions. In contrast, in the case of tax evaders, the increase in monitoring should be accompanied by higher penalties.

Suggested Citation

  • Gaetano Lisi, 2015. "Tax morale, tax compliance and the optimal tax policy," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(c), pages 27-32.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecanpo:v:45:y:2015:i:c:p:27-32
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    Cited by:

    1. Gaetano Lisi, 2023. "Tax evasion, tax reward and the optimal fiscal policy," ECONOMIA PUBBLICA, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2023(3), pages 309-327.
    2. Ahmad Farhan Alshira’h & Hijattulah Abdul-Jabbar & Rose Shamsiah Samsudin, 2019. "The Effect of Tax Moral on Sales Tax Compliance among Jordanian SMEs," International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, vol. 9(1), pages 30-41, January.
    3. Colin Williams, 2020. "An Institutional Theory of Tax Non- Compliance in Bulgaria: a Tax Morale Approach," Economic Alternatives, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, issue 1, pages 33-49, March.
    4. Dewi Prastiwi & Erlina Diamastuti, 2023. "Building Trust and Enhancing Tax Compliance: The Role of Authoritarian Procedures and Respectful Treatment in Indonesia," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-15, August.
    5. Meda Andini & Alfa Rahmiati, 2020. "Tax and compliance of individual taxpayer," Post-Print hal-03121022, HAL.
    6. Sandra Aulia & Haula Rosdiana & Inayati Inayati, 2022. "Trust, Power, and Tax Risk into the “Slippery Slope”: A Corporate Tax Compliance Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-18, November.
    7. Colin C. Williams & Slavko Bezeredi, 2021. "Explaining informal entrepreneurship in Croatia: a social actor approach," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 42(3), pages 348-368.
    8. Allam, Amir & Abou-El-Sood, Heba & Elmarzouky, Mahmoud & Yamen, Ahmed, 2024. "Financial development and tax evasion: International evidence from OECD and non-OECD countries," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    9. Colin C WILLIAMS & Slavko BEZEREDI, 2018. "Explaining informal entrepreneurship in South-East Europe: a tax morale approach," Eastern Journal of European Studies, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 9, pages 47-68, December.
    10. Dossè Mawussi Djahini‐Afawoubo, 2024. "Understanding tax payment behaviour in the West African Economic and Monetary Union: The role of perceived detection capacity and honesty," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 36(2), pages 795-823, March.
    11. Abiodun Samuel Ajayi & Kolawole Olalekan Adebola & Babalola Raphael Adesunloro & Adenike Omowumi Oladipo & Ajagbe Grace, 2025. "Tax Audit and Revenue on Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises in Nigeria," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(6), pages 3514-3527, June.
    12. Muhammad Sohail Akhtar & Muhammad Zubair Chishti & Ahmer Bilal, 2023. "Incumbency and tax compliance: evidence from Pakistan," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 3(3), pages 1-26, March.
    13. Pukelienė Violeta & Kažemekaitytė Austėja, 2016. "Tax Behaviour: Assessment of Tax Compliance in European Union Countries," Ekonomika (Economics), Sciendo, vol. 95(2), pages 30-56, February.
    14. Colin C. Williams & Slavko Bezeredi, 2018. "An Institutional Theory Of Informal Entrepreneurship: Some Lessons From Fyr Macedonia," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 23(03), pages 1-22, September.
    15. Ibn e Hassan & Ahmed Naeem & Sidra Gulzar, 2021. "Voluntary tax compliance behavior of individual taxpayers in Pakistan," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 7(1), pages 1-23, December.
    16. Gaetano Lisi, 2023. "Tax Audits, Tax Rewards and Labour Market Outcomes," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-12, February.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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