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The Political Economy of Joint Taxation

Author

Listed:
  • Felix J. Bierbrauer
  • Pierre C. Boyer
  • Andreas Peichl

  • Daniel Weishaar
  • Felix Bierbrauer

Abstract

Joint taxation of married couples represents a puzzle for welfare economics. We investigate whether political economy forces can explain its persistence. We develop sufficient statistics to determine whether a reform towards individual taxation would garner majority support and apply this framework to the U.S. tax system since the 1960s. Our findings indicate that support for individual taxation has increased over time. As of today, 50% of all married individuals would benefit from such a reform. Among those worse off are poor single-earner couples. A reform that reduces marriage bonuses also for them is rejected by a social welfare function that concentrates weights at the bottom of the distribution.

Suggested Citation

  • Felix J. Bierbrauer & Pierre C. Boyer & Andreas Peichl & Daniel Weishaar & Felix Bierbrauer, 2025. "The Political Economy of Joint Taxation," CESifo Working Paper Series 11728, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_11728
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. LaLumia, Sara, 2008. "The effects of joint taxation of married couples on labor supply and non-wage income," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(7), pages 1698-1719, July.
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    5. Thomas F. Crossley & Sung-Hee Jeon, 2007. "Joint Taxation and the Labour Supply of Married Women: Evidence from the Canadian Tax Reform of 1988," Fiscal Studies, Institute for Fiscal Studies, vol. 28(3), pages 343-365, September.
    6. Daniel Feenberg & Elisabeth Coutts, 1993. "An introduction to the TAXSIM model," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 12(1), pages 189-194.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • 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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