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Do only tax incentives matter? Labor supply and demand responses to an unusually large and salient tax break

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  • Tazhitdinova, Alisa

Abstract

I explore labor supply responses to an unusually large and salient notch generated by the “Mini-Job” program in Germany. Using administrative data, I document three findings. First, despite the unusually large magnitude of incentives, earnings elasticities are modest, even after accounting for frictions. Second, the observed response cannot be fully attributed to labor supply alone; rather, the observed outcomes are highly dependent on the availability of jobs and, so are strongly influenced by labor demand incentives. Third, I show that these firm incentives are likely driven by the fact that mini-job workers receive lower fringe-benefit payments.

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  • Tazhitdinova, Alisa, 2020. "Do only tax incentives matter? Labor supply and demand responses to an unusually large and salient tax break," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:184:y:2020:i:c:s0047272720300268
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2020.104162
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    Cited by:

    1. Haywood, Luke & Neumann, Michael, 2021. "Equilibrium effects of tax exemptions for low pay," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    2. Oliwia Komada & Krzysztof Makarski & Joanna Tyrowicz, 2021. "Progressing towards efficiency: the role for labor tax progression in reforming social security," GRAPE Working Papers 57, GRAPE Group for Research in Applied Economics.
    3. Hannah Illing & Johannes Schmieder & Simon Trenkle, "undated". "The Gender Gap in Earnings Losses After Job Displacement," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2022_381, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.
    4. Carrillo-Tudela, Carlos & Launov, Andrey & Robin, Jean-Marc, 2021. "The fall in german unemployment: A flow analysis," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    5. Gudgeon, Matthew & Trenkle, Simon, 2020. "The Speed of Earnings Responses to Taxation and the Role of Firm Labor Demand," IZA Discussion Papers 13931, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Zaresani, Arezou, 2020. "Adjustment cost and incentives to work: Evidence from a disability insurance program," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    7. Duan, Yige & Jost, Oskar & Jost, Ramona, 2022. "Beyond Lost Earnings: The Long-Term Impact of Job Displacement on Workers’ Commuting Behavior," IAB-Discussion Paper 202215, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    8. Gabriela Galassi, 2021. "Labor Demand Response to Labor Supply Incentives: Lessons from the German Mini-Job Reform," Staff Working Papers 21-15, Bank of Canada.
    9. KITAO Sagiri & MIKOSHIBA Minamo, 2022. "Why Women Work the Way They Do in Japan: Roles of Fiscal Policies," Discussion papers 22016, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    10. Philippe Aghion & Ufuk Akcigit & Maxime Gravoueille & Matthieu Lequien & Stefanie Stantcheva, 2023. "Tax simplicity or simplicity of evasion? Evidence from self-employment taxes in France," POID Working Papers 050, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    11. Roantree, Barra & Doorley, Karina, 2023. "Poverty, income inequality and living standards in Ireland: Third annual report," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number JR4, June.
    12. Galassi, Gabriela, 2021. "Labor Demand Response to Labor Supply Incentives: Lessons from the German Mini-Job Reform," IZA Discussion Papers 14248, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Payroll tax; Income tax; Earnings elasticity; Fringe benefits;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General
    • H22 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Incidence
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • H32 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Firm
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Retirement Plans; Private Pensions
    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy

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