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Taxation, risk aversion, and the wage gaps in tournaments

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  • John Douglas SkåtunBy

Abstract

In this paper’s tournament model, the effect of income taxes on workers’ effort depends on risk preferences. At risk neutrality and low levels of worker risk aversion effort falls with higher taxes, whereas with sufficiently high risk aversion effort increases with tax rises. In the former, firms respond to higher taxes by reducing the wage spread and increasing it in the latter. It sheds light on why top earners’ income has risen with tax reductions over the last five decades. With females being more risk averse it suggests tax reductions contribute to the CEO gender pay gap.

Suggested Citation

  • John Douglas SkåtunBy, 2017. "Taxation, risk aversion, and the wage gaps in tournaments," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 69(3), pages 834-845.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:oxecpp:v:69:y:2017:i:3:p:834-845.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/oep/gpw052
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    JEL classification:

    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household

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