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Optimal Taxation of Risky Entrepreneurial Capital

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  • Boar, Corina
  • Knowles, Matthew

Abstract

We study optimal taxation in a model with endogenous financial frictions, risky investment and occupational choice, where the distribution of wealth across entrepreneurs affects how efficiently capital is used. The planner chooses linear taxes on wealth, capital and labor income to maximize the steady state utility of a newborn agent. Most agents in the model are poor, leading to a redistributive motive for taxation. Optimal tax rates can be written as a closed-form function of the size of the tax bases and their elasticities with respect to tax rates. We find that it is optimal to tax capital income because financial frictions reduce the elasticity of capital income with respect to taxes and because capital income taxes prevent excessive entry into entrepreneurship. Optimal wealth taxes are positive but close to zero, since they strongly discourage capital accumulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Boar, Corina & Knowles, Matthew, 2022. "Optimal Taxation of Risky Entrepreneurial Capital," CEPR Discussion Papers 17266, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:17266
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    Cited by:

    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Thomas Phelan, 2025. "On The Optimality Of Differential Asset Taxation," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 66(1), pages 53-78, February.
    3. Holter, Hans & Stepanchuk, Serhiy & Wang, Yicheng, 2023. "Taxation and Entrepreneurship in the United States," Memorandum 2/2023, Oslo University, Department of Economics.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E2 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment
    • E6 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook
    • H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue

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