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Product Quality Under Specific and Ad Valorem Taxation

Author

Listed:
  • John Kay

    (London Business School)

  • Michael Keen

    (University of Essex)

Abstract

This article generalizes existing results on the effects of specific and ad valorem taxes on product quality in competitive markets. It is shown that the critical quantity on which these effects turn is the price elasticity of the marginal valuation of quality. Previous analyses, it emerges, have implicitly focused on the special cases in which this elasticity is zero or unity. It is also shown that there are circumstances in which this elasticity is exactly the reciprocal of the elasticity of substitution between price and quality in the indirect utility function.

Suggested Citation

  • John Kay & Michael Keen, 1991. "Product Quality Under Specific and Ad Valorem Taxation," Public Finance Review, , vol. 19(2), pages 238-247, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:pubfin:v:19:y:1991:i:2:p:238-247
    DOI: 10.1177/109114219101900207
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. John Kay & Michael Keen, 1987. "Commodity Taxation for Maximum Revenue," Public Finance Review, , vol. 15(4), pages 371-385, October.
    2. Krishna, Kala, 1987. "Tariffs versus quotas with endogenous quality," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(1-2), pages 97-112, August.
    3. Barzel, Yoram, 1976. "An Alternative Approach to the Analysis of Taxation," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 84(6), pages 1177-1197, December.
    4. Cecil E. Bohanon & T. Norman Van Cott, 1984. "Specific Taxes, Product Quality, and Rate-Revenue Analysis," Public Finance Review, , vol. 12(4), pages 500-511, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Sophia Delipalla & Owen O'Donnell, 1998. "The Comparison Between Ad Valorem and Specific Taxation under Imperfect Competition: Evidence from the European Cigarette Industry," Studies in Economics 9802, School of Economics, University of Kent.
    2. Sophia Delipalla, 2009. "Commodity Tax Structure And Informal Activity," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(3), pages 283-294, July.
    3. Liqun Liu, 2003. "Relative Efficiency of AD Valorem and Unit Taxes: The Case of Endogenous Quality," Public Finance Review, , vol. 31(3), pages 291-301, May.
    4. Blum, Bianca, 2018. "Ausgestaltung einer Steuerpolitik zur Förderung von LED-Beleuchtung," The Constitutional Economics Network Working Papers 01-2018, University of Freiburg, Department of Economic Policy and Constitutional Economic Theory.
    5. Liqun Liu & Thomas R. Saving, 2005. "Market Substitution and the Pareto Dominance of Ad Valorem Taxation," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 72(2), pages 463-481, October.
    6. Sebastian Schlütter, 2019. "Optimal taxation in non-life insurance markets," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance Theory, Springer;International Association for the Study of Insurance Economics (The Geneva Association), vol. 44(1), pages 1-26, March.
    7. Marko Primorac & Silvija Vlah Jeric, 2017. "The Structure of Cigarette Excises in the EU: From Myths to Reality," CESifo Working Paper Series 6386, CESifo.
    8. Sebastian Schlütter, 2019. "Optimal taxation in non-life insurance markets," The Geneva Risk and Insurance Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association for the Study of Insurance Economics (The Geneva Association), vol. 44(1), pages 1-26, March.
    9. Gregory A. Trandel, 1999. "Producers Lose: The Relative Percentage Reductions in Surplus Due to an AD Valorem Commodity Tax," Public Finance Review, , vol. 27(1), pages 96-104, January.
    10. Delipalla, Sophia & O'Donnell, Owen, 2001. "Estimating tax incidence, market power and market conduct: The European cigarette industry," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 19(6), pages 885-908, May.
    11. David Hummels & Alexandre Skiba, 2004. "Shipping the Good Apples Out? An Empirical Confirmation of the Alchian-Allen Conjecture," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 112(6), pages 1384-1402, December.
    12. Auerbach, Alan J. & Hines, James Jr., 2002. "Taxation and economic efficiency," Handbook of Public Economics, in: A. J. Auerbach & M. Feldstein (ed.), Handbook of Public Economics, edition 1, volume 3, chapter 21, pages 1347-1421, Elsevier.
    13. Sobel, Russell S & Garrett, Thomas A, 1997. "Taxation and Product Quality: New Evidence from Generic Cigarettes," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 105(4), pages 880-887, August.
    14. Claudio Agostini, 2010. "Tributación a Los Cigarrillos: Análisis y Propuestas," ILADES-UAH Working Papers inv246, Universidad Alberto Hurtado/School of Economics and Business.

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