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The role of central bank independence on optimal taxation and seigniorage

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  • Nolivos, Roberto Delhy
  • Vuletin, Guillermo

Abstract

Should inflation be thought of as “just another tax?” The theoretical basis for doing so dates back to Phelps (1973) and has been greatly refined ever since. Since optimal taxation minimizes the deadweight loss by equalizing the marginal distortions of all available taxes, including the inflation tax, a key distinctive theoretical implication obtained by these models is that inflation and tax rates have a positive relationship. While theoretically appealing, empirical studies find virtually no support for this key implication.

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  • Nolivos, Roberto Delhy & Vuletin, Guillermo, 2014. "The role of central bank independence on optimal taxation and seigniorage," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 440-458.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:poleco:v:34:y:2014:i:c:p:440-458
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2013.09.010
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    2. Antonio Afonso & Hüseyin Sen & Ayse Kaya, 2021. "Government Size, Unemployment and Inflation Nexus in Eight Large Emerging Market Economies," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 235(1), pages 133-170, March.
    3. Donato Masciandaro & Davide Romelli, 2019. "Behavioral Monetary Policymaking: Economics, Political Economy and Psychology," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Behavioral Finance The Coming of Age, chapter 9, pages 285-329, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    4. Ferré, Montserrat & Garcia, Judit & Manzano, Carolina, 2018. "Tax efficiency, seigniorage and Central Bank Conservativeness," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 218-230.
    5. D. Masciandaro, 2019. "What Bird Is That? Central Banking And Monetary Policy In The Last Forty Years," BAFFI CAREFIN Working Papers 19127, BAFFI CAREFIN, Centre for Applied Research on International Markets Banking Finance and Regulation, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy.
    6. Ameen Omar Shareef & K.P. Prabheesh, 2022. "Does International Monetary Policy Influence The Bank Risk? Evidence From India," Bulletin of Monetary Economics and Banking, Bank Indonesia, vol. 25(2), pages 135-154, August.
    7. Mursal Harahap & Bonar M. Sinaga & Adler H. Manurung & Tubagus Nur Ahmad Maulana, 2018. "Impact of Policies and Macroeconomic Variables on Tax Revenue and Effective Tax Rate of Infrastructure, Utility, and Transportation Sector Companies Listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 8(3), pages 95-104.
    8. Daniel Riera-Crichton & Carlos A. Vegh & Guillermo Vuletin, 2017. "Tax policy and the macroeconomy: Measurement, identification, and non-linearities," Revista ESPE - Ensayos sobre Política Económica, Banco de la Republica de Colombia, vol. 35(82), pages 10-17, April.
    9. repec:bdr:ensayo:v:35:y:2017:i:82:p:56-75 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Aziz N. Berdiev & James W. Saunoris, 2023. "The case for independence: Does central bank independence curb the spread of the underground economy?," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 76(3), pages 407-435, August.
    11. Richard C. K. Burdekin & Leroy O. Laney, 2016. "Fiscal policymaking and the central bank institutional constraint Una Vez Más: New Latin American evidence," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 167(3), pages 277-289, June.
    12. Carlos A. Vegh & Guillermo Vuletin, 2015. "How Is Tax Policy Conducted over the Business Cycle?," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 7(3), pages 327-370, August.
    13. Donato Masciandaro & Davide Romelli, 2018. "To Be or not to Be a Euro Country? The Behavioural Political Economics of Currency Unions," BAFFI CAREFIN Working Papers 1883, BAFFI CAREFIN, Centre for Applied Research on International Markets Banking Finance and Regulation, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy.
    14. Kari Heimonen & Aleksandra Maslowska-Jokinen, 2014. "Central bank independence and sovereign debt crisis. Any link?," Discussion Papers 93, Aboa Centre for Economics.
    15. Galvis Ciro, Juan Camilo & Ferreira de Mendonça, Helder, 2016. "Inflation targeting and tax effort: Evidence from Colombia," MPRA Paper 90544, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 14 Dec 2018.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Optimal taxation; Inflation tax; Seigniorage; Central bank independence; Fiscal and monetary policy coordination;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • 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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