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Reducing the dimensionality of a selfishly optimal nonlinear income tax problem

Author

Listed:
  • Craig Brett

    (Mount Allison University)

  • John A. Weymark

    (Vanderbilt University)

Abstract

Röell (Voting over nonlinear income tax schedules, unpublished manuscript, 2012) considers a political economy version of the finite-type Mirrlees (Rev Econ Stud 38:175–208, 1971) nonlinear income tax problem in which each type proposes its selfishly optimal tax schedule with majority rule used to select among them. We show that it is possible to solve a selfishly optimal nonlinear income tax problem by first solving for the optimal consumptions using a reduced-form problem that only involves these variables and then using the optimal consumptions in two recursion formulae to compute the optimal incomes. The analysis extends the methodology introduced in Weymark (J Publ Econ 30:199–217, 1986b) so as to handle problems in which not all of the adjacent incentive constraints bind in the same direction.

Suggested Citation

  • Craig Brett & John A. Weymark, 2018. "Reducing the dimensionality of a selfishly optimal nonlinear income tax problem," Economic Theory Bulletin, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 6(2), pages 157-169, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:etbull:v:6:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s40505-017-0131-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s40505-017-0131-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Brett, Craig & Weymark, John A., 2016. "Voting over selfishly optimal nonlinear income tax schedules with a minimum-utility constraint," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 18-31.
    2. Lollivier, Stefan & Rochet, Jean-Charles, 1983. "Bunching and second-order conditions: A note on optimal tax theory," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 392-400, December.
    3. Laurent Simula, 2010. "Optimal nonlinear income tax and nonlinear pricing: optimality conditions and comparative static properties," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 35(2), pages 199-220, July.
    4. Weymark, John A, 1987. "Comparative Static Properties of Optimal Nonlinear Income Taxes," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 55(5), pages 1165-1185, September.
    5. Boadway, Robin & Jacquet, Laurence, 2008. "Optimal marginal and average income taxation under maximin," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 143(1), pages 425-441, November.
    6. J. A. Mirrlees, 1971. "An Exploration in the Theory of Optimum Income Taxation," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 38(2), pages 175-208.
    7. Peter J. Hammond, 1979. "Straightforward Individual Incentive Compatibility in Large Economies," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 46(2), pages 263-282.
    8. Weymark, John A., 1986. "A reduced-form optimal nonlinear income tax problem," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 199-217, July.
    9. Chambers, Robert G., 1989. "Concentrated objective functions for nonlinear taxation models," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 365-375, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Craig Brett & John A. Weymark, 2020. "Majority rule and selfishly optimal nonlinear income tax schedules with discrete skill levels," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 54(2), pages 337-362, March.

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