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Monetary Policy and Automatic Stabilizers: The Role of Progressive Taxation

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  • FABRIZIO MATTESINI
  • LORENZA ROSSI

Abstract

We study the effects of progressive labor income taxation in an otherwise standard New Keynesian (NK) model. We show that progressive taxation (i) introduces a trade‐off between output and inflation stabilization and affects the slope of the Phillips Curve, (ii) acts as automatic stabilizer changing the responses to technology shocks and demand shocks, and (iii) alters the prescription for the optimal monetary policy. The welfare gains from commitment decrease as labor income taxes become more progressive. Quantitatively, the model reproduces the observed negative correlation between the volatility of output, hours, and inflation and the degree of progressivity of labor income taxation.

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  • Fabrizio Mattesini & Lorenza Rossi, 2012. "Monetary Policy and Automatic Stabilizers: The Role of Progressive Taxation," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 44(5), pages 825-862, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jmoncb:v:44:y:2012:i:5:p:825-862
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1538-4616.2012.00512.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Miroslav Gabrovski & Jang‐Ting Guo, 2022. "Progressive taxation as an automatic stabilizer under nominal wage rigidity and preference shocks," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 18(3), pages 232-246, September.
    2. Balleer, Almut & Gehrke, Britta & Lechthaler, Wolfgang & Merkl, Christian, 2016. "Does short-time work save jobs? A business cycle analysis," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 99-122.
    3. Daisuke Ida & Kenichi Kaminoyama, 2023. "Progressive taxation and optimal monetary policy in a two‐country new Keynesian model," International Finance, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(3), pages 260-285, December.
    4. Jana Kremer & Nikolai Stähler, 2016. "Structural and Cyclical Effects of Tax Progression," FinanzArchiv: Public Finance Analysis, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 72(1), pages 41-73, March.
    5. Nicholas Apergis, 2015. "Labor Income Tax and Output in a Panel of Central and Eastern European Countries: A Long-Run Perspective," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 21(1), pages 1-12, March.
    6. Diana Alessandrini, 2021. "Progressive Taxation and Economic Stability," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 123(2), pages 422-452, April.
    7. Geronikolaou, George & Spyromitros, Eleftherios & Tsintzos, Panagiotis, 2020. "Progressive taxation and human capital as determinants of inflation persistence," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 82-97.
    8. Engler, Philipp & Strehl, Wolfgang, 2016. "The macroeconomic effects of progressive taxes and welfare," Discussion Papers 2016/23, Free University Berlin, School of Business & Economics.
    9. Jang-Ting Guo & Miroslav Gabrovski, 2019. "Progressive Taxation, Nominal Wage Rigidity, and Business Cycle Destabilization," Working Papers 201913, University of California at Riverside, Department of Economics.
    10. Strehl, Wolfgang, 2019. "Revisiting the progressive consumption tax: A business cycle perspective," Discussion Papers 2019/13, Free University Berlin, School of Business & Economics.
    11. João Tovar Jalles & Georgios Karras, 2023. "Tax Progressivity and Output: Evidence from OECD countries," Working Papers REM 2023/0293, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, REM, Universidade de Lisboa.
    12. Madalina Ecaterina Popescu & Eva Militaru & Larisa Stanila & Maria Denisa Vasilescu & Amalia Cristescu, 2019. "Flat-Rate versus Progressive Taxation? An Impact Evaluation Study for the Case of Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-16, November.
    13. Giorgio Motta & Patrizio Tirelli, 2012. "Optimal Simple Monetary and Fiscal Rules under Limited Asset Market Participation," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 44(7), pages 1351-1374, October.
    14. Krajňák Michal, 2023. "Does the Type of Nominal Personal Income Tax Rate Affect Its Progressivity? A Case Study from the Czech Republic," Business Systems Research, Sciendo, vol. 14(1), pages 93-111, September.
    15. Strehl, Wolfgang & Engler, Philipp, 2015. "Progressive Taxation and Monetary Policy in a Currency Union," VfS Annual Conference 2015 (Muenster): Economic Development - Theory and Policy 112823, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    16. Sun, Chuanwang & Xu, Zhehong & Zheng, Hongwei, 2023. "Green transformation of the building industry and the government policy effects: Policy simulation based on the DSGE model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E50 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - General
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies

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