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Tax structure for consumption and income inequality: an empirical assessment

Author

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  • José Alves

    (ISEG/UL - Universidade de Lisboa)

  • António Afonso

    (ISEG/UL - Universidade de Lisboa)

Abstract

In this study, we assess the relationship between several tax items and consumption and income inequality levels. For OECD countries between 1980 and 2015, we use panel data techniques and find tax threshold values regarding inequality levels and consumption. In particular, we obtain threshold values for social security contributions between 9.50 and 11.80% (of GDP), for long-run consumptions, while to promote a reduction in income inequalities we found a 15.51% share of social security contributions over GDP, in both short- and long-term perspectives. Lastly, our results would support higher taxes on firms, in GDP terms, to decrease income inequalities, although that might hamper aggregate consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • José Alves & António Afonso, 2019. "Tax structure for consumption and income inequality: an empirical assessment," SERIEs: Journal of the Spanish Economic Association, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 10(3), pages 337-364, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:series:v:10:y:2019:i:3:d:10.1007_s13209-019-00202-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s13209-019-00202-3
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    Cited by:

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    2. António Afonso & João Tovar Jalles & Ana Venâncio, 2021. "Structural Tax Reforms and Public Spending Efficiency," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 32(5), pages 1017-1061, November.
    3. Tram T.H. Nguyen and Wonho Song, 2021. "Carbon Pricing and Income Inequality: An Empirical Investigation," Journal of Economic Development, Chung-Ang Unviersity, Department of Economics, vol. 46(2), pages 155-182, June.
    4. Lucas Menescal & José Alves, 2022. "Optimal Threshold Taxation: An Empirical Investigation for Developing Economies," CESifo Working Paper Series 9782, CESifo.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Income inequality; Consumption; Tax thresholds;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation

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