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Assessing the Distributional Effects of Housing Taxation in Italy: From the Actual Tax Code to Imputed Rent

Author

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  • Simone Pellegrino
  • Massimiliano Piacenza
  • Gilberto Turati

Abstract

The presence of extensive housing subsidies characterises the current tax systems as inefficient. In this paper, we study whether inefficiency is the price to be paid to improve equity, by assessing the actual distributive impact of housing taxation on Italian households. We concentrate on the personal income tax on the main residence, and compare provisions of the Tax Code with an alternative approach, by considering the imputed rent from owner-occupied dwelling as a component of the Personal Income Tax gross income. Our results suggest that current tax system is just as inefficient as it is inequitable.

Suggested Citation

  • Simone Pellegrino & Massimiliano Piacenza & Gilberto Turati, 2011. "Assessing the Distributional Effects of Housing Taxation in Italy: From the Actual Tax Code to Imputed Rent," CESifo Working Paper Series 3368, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_3368
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Virginia Maestri, 2015. "A Measure of Income Poverty Including Housing: Benefits and Limitations for Policy Making," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 121(3), pages 675-696, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    housing taxation; imputed rents; microsimulation models;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution

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