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Are Local Property Taxes Regressive, Progressive, or What?

Author

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  • Wallace E. Oates
  • William A. Fischel

Abstract

Local property taxes are commonly regarded as regressive, but the two dominant (and competing) views of the property tax would disagree. Under the capital-tax view, the national element of the tax is a tax on real estate capital, which makes it somewhat inefficient but progressive, given the distribution of ownership of real property. Under the benefit view, the local component of the property tax is not really a tax but a fee for service. We describe evidence that the capital-tax view applies in relatively undeveloped areas, while the benefit view is more relevant in developed urban areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Wallace E. Oates & William A. Fischel, 2016. "Are Local Property Taxes Regressive, Progressive, or What?," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 69(2), pages 415-434, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:ntj:journl:v:69:y:2016:i:2:p:415-434
    DOI: 10.1086/NTJ44014529
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    Cited by:

    1. Maiterth, Ralf & Piper, Yuri & Sureth, Caren, 2024. "Liquiditätseffekte einer Vermögensteuer bei Mietwohnimmobilien," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 286, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    2. Michael Wasylenko, 2017. "Financing Central Cities: The Economics Underlying Fiscal Strategy Options With Special Reference to Syracuse City and the Consensus Report," Center for Policy Research Working Papers 204, Center for Policy Research, Maxwell School, Syracuse University.
    3. Momi Dahan, 2023. "Social Construction And The Progressivity Of Local Tax Relief," Israel Economic Review, Bank of Israel, vol. 21(1), pages 1-33, March.
    4. Löffler, Max & Siegloch, Sebastian, 2015. "Property Taxation, Local Labor Markets and Rental Housing," VfS Annual Conference 2015 (Muenster): Economic Development - Theory and Policy 112967, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    5. Iuliia Shybalkina, 2021. "The role of organized groups in administrative burdens of property taxation," Journal of Behavioral Public Administration, Center for Experimental and Behavioral Public Administration, vol. 4(1).
    6. David J. Schwegman & John Yinger, 2020. "The Shifting of the Property Tax on Urban Renters: Evidence from New York State�s Homestead Tax Option," Working Papers 20-43, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    7. Daniel McMillen & Ruchi Singh, 2020. "Assessment Regressivity and Property Taxation," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 60(1), pages 155-169, February.
    8. Vejchodská, Eliška & Barreira, Ana Paula & Auziņš, Armands & Jürgenson, Evelin & Fowles, Steven & Maliene, Vida, 2022. "Bridging land value capture with land rent narratives," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    9. Rotberg, Shahar & Steinberg, Joseph B., 2024. "Mortgage interest deductions? Not a bad idea after all," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    10. Murray, Cameron & Hermans, Jesse Benjamin, 2019. "Land value is a progressive and efficient property tax base: Evidence from Victoria," OSF Preprints mxg3j, Center for Open Science.

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