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Short-run Distributional Effects of VAT Rate Change: Evidence from a consumption tax rate increase in Japan

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  • David CASHIN
  • Takashi UNAYAMA

Abstract

Households will purchase more items than usual prior to a value added tax (VAT) rate increase in order to avoid taxation. Since this type of arbitrage requires resources such as shopping time and storage space, the impacts of tax increases vary across households, which has brought distributional effects in the short-run. Using the case of a consumption tax rate increase in Japan in 1997, we show that households who are non-working, with non-working spouses and residing in larger houses, benefited from more arbitrage. To minimize short-run economic disturbances, step-by-step increases would be useful.

Suggested Citation

  • David CASHIN & Takashi UNAYAMA, 2012. "Short-run Distributional Effects of VAT Rate Change: Evidence from a consumption tax rate increase in Japan," Discussion papers 12029, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    • Handle: RePEc:eti:dpaper:12029
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Christopher E. Boehm, 2016. "Government Spending and Durable Goods," CESifo Working Paper Series 6244, CESifo.
    2. Wenbin Wu, 2022. "Sales of Durable Goods and the Real Effects of Monetary Policy," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 43, pages 80-92, January.
    3. Thomas Crossley & Hamish Low & Cath Sleeman, 2014. "Using a temporary indirect tax cut as a fiscal stimulus: evidence from the UK," IFS Working Papers W14/16, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    4. Jana Stavjaňová, 2014. "Value Added Tax Gap in the Czech Republic," Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, Mendel University Press, vol. 62(6), pages 1427-1436.
    5. Yasuyuki Komaki, 2021. "Economic Effects of Change in the Value-Added Tax Rate in Europe: Implications for the Japanese Economy," Public Policy Review, Policy Research Institute, Ministry of Finance Japan, vol. 17(2), pages 1-30, November.

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