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Optimal Income Taxation of Lone Mothers: An Empirical Comparison of the UK and Germany

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  • Richard Blundell
  • Mike Brewer
  • Peter Haan
  • Andrew Shephard

Abstract

Optimal tax rules are used to evaluate the optimality of taxation for lone mothers in Germany and Britain. The theoretical model is combined with elasticities derived from the structural estimation of lone mothers’ labour supply. For both countries we do not find that in‐work credits with marginal tax rates are optimal. However we show that when the government has a low taste for redistribution, out‐of‐work transfers and transfer for the working poor are very similar, implying very low marginal tax rates. Further, the current tax and transfer systems in both countries are shown to be optimal only if governments have a much higher welfare value for income received by the non‐workers than the working poor.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Blundell & Mike Brewer & Peter Haan & Andrew Shephard, 2009. "Optimal Income Taxation of Lone Mothers: An Empirical Comparison of the UK and Germany," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 119(535), pages 101-121, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:econjl:v:119:y:2009:i:535:p:f101-f121
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0297.2008.02261.x
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