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On The Taxation Of Durable Goods

Author

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  • Sebastian Koehne

Abstract

This article proposes a dynamic Mirrleesian theory of commodity taxation in the presence of durable goods. A uniform taxation across all goods is suboptimal even when the consumption preferences are separable from labor. If the consumption utility function is strictly concave and durable stocks are adjustable without friction, durable investment should be taxed at a higher rate than the purchase of nondurable goods. With adjustment frictions, the wedge on durable investment depends on substitution effects between durable and nondurable consumption and can be positive or negative. An application suggests that housing investment should face higher tax rates than regular consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • Sebastian Koehne, 2018. "On The Taxation Of Durable Goods," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 59(2), pages 825-857, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:iecrev:v:59:y:2018:i:2:p:825-857
    DOI: 10.1111/iere.12289
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    Cited by:

    1. Sebastian Koehne & Dominik Sachs, 2019. "Pareto-efficient Tax Deductions," CESifo Working Paper Series 7744, CESifo.
    2. K. L. Glen Ueng & Fu-Chuan Lai & Chu-Chuan Cheng & Juin-Jen Chang, 2025. "Tax evasion and consumption indivisibility," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 68(1), pages 53-83, August.
    3. Lu, Chun-Hui & Ueng, K.L. Glen & Chang, Juin-Jen, 2022. "Consumption indivisibility and the optimal tax mix," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    4. Spencer Bastani & Daniel Waldenström, 2020. "How Should Capital Be Taxed?," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(4), pages 812-846, September.
    5. Francesca Parodi, 2023. "Taxation of Consumption and Labor Income: A Quantitative Approach," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 15(4), pages 177-216, October.
    6. Spencer Bastani & Sebastian Koehne, 2024. "How Should Consumption Be Taxed?," FinanzArchiv: Public Finance Analysis, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 80(3), pages 259-302.
    7. Sebastian Koehne & Dominik Sachs, 2016. "Pareto-Efficient Tax Breaks," CESifo Working Paper Series 6147, CESifo.
    8. Bastani, Spencer & Blomquist, Sören & Gahvari, Firouz & Micheletto, Luca & Tayibov, Khayyam, 2025. "Optimal housing taxation with land scarcity and maintenance: A Mirrleesian perspective," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    9. Li, Shiyu & Lin, Shuanglin, 2023. "Housing property tax, economic growth, and intergenerational welfare: The case of China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 233-251.
    10. Hellwig, Christian, 2021. "Static and Dynamic Mirrleesian Taxation with Non-separable Preferences: A Unified Approach," CEPR Discussion Papers 16254, Centre for Economic Policy Research.
    11. Koehne, Sebastian & Sachs, Dominik, 2022. "Pareto-improving reforms of tax deductions," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation

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