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Horizontal Equity in the German Tax-Benefit System: A Simulation Approach for Employees

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  • Timm Bönke
  • Sebastian Eichfelder

Abstract

We analyze the distributive justice of the combined burden of taxes, social security contributions, and public transfers on employee households. Comparing eight different household types, we utilize the concept of horizontal equity regarding the treatment of families in the German tax-benefit system. Applying system-inherent equivalence scales, we find evidence for a structural discrimination against low-income families, while high-income earners tend to be privileged. Therefore, we can state a significant contradiction of value judgments between the social welfare system and the German tax and social security legislation.

Suggested Citation

  • Timm Bönke & Sebastian Eichfelder, 2010. "Horizontal Equity in the German Tax-Benefit System: A Simulation Approach for Employees," FinanzArchiv: Public Finance Analysis, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 66(3), pages 295-331, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:mhr:finarc:urn:sici:0015-2218(201009)66:3_295:heitgt_2.0.tx_2-k
    DOI: 10.1628/001522108X538264
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    1. Jack Habib, 1979. "Horizontal Equity with Respect to Family Size," Public Finance Review, , vol. 7(3), pages 283-302, July.
    2. Gruber, Jonathan, 1997. "The Incidence of Payroll Taxation: Evidence from Chile," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 15(3), pages 72-101, July.
    3. Bönke, Timm & Eichfelder, Sebastian, 2008. "Horizontale Gleichheit im Abgaben-Transfersystem: eine Analyse äquivalenter Einkommen von Arbeitnehmern in Deutschland," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 36, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    4. Donaldson, D. & Pendakur, K., 1999. "Equivalent-Income Functions and Income-Dependent Equivalence Scales," Discussion Papers dp99-8, Department of Economics, Simon Fraser University.
    5. Ebert, Udo & Moyes, Patrick, 2000. "Consistent Income Tax Structures When Households Are Heterogeneous," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 90(1), pages 116-150, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bönke, Timm & Kemptner, Daniel & Lüthen, Holger, 2018. "Effectiveness of early retirement disincentives: Individual welfare, distributional and fiscal implications," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 25-37.
    2. Hrvoje Simovic, 2012. "Effect of expenditures in personal income taxation on horizontal equity in Croatia," Financial Theory and Practice, Institute of Public Finance, vol. 36(3), pages 245-267.
    3. Bartels, Charlotte & Pestel, Nico, 2016. "Short- and long-term participation tax rates and their impact on labor supply," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 23(6), pages 1126-1159.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    horizontal equity; family taxation; distributive justice; tax-benefit system; equivalent income;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies

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