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Income taxation of couples and the tax unit choice

Author

Listed:
  • Helmuth Cremer

    (TSE-R - Toulouse School of Economics - UT Capitole - Université Toulouse Capitole - UT - Université de Toulouse - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

  • Jean-Marie Lozachmeur

    (TSE-R - Toulouse School of Economics - UT Capitole - Université Toulouse Capitole - UT - Université de Toulouse - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

  • Pierre Pestieau

    (ULiège - Université de Liège = University of Liège = Universiteit van Luik = Universität Lüttich)

Abstract

We study the optimal income taxation of couples. We determine the resulting intra-family labor supply allocation and its implication for the choice of the tax unit (individual versus joint taxation). We provide a general condition for full joint taxation to arise. We also study how the spouses' respective labor supply decisions are distorted when the condition does not hold. In particular, we show that, depending on the pattern of mating, the celebrated result according to which the spouse with the more elastic labor supply faces the lower marginal tax rates may or may not hold in our setting.

Suggested Citation

  • Helmuth Cremer & Jean-Marie Lozachmeur & Pierre Pestieau, 2011. "Income taxation of couples and the tax unit choice," Post-Print hal-05107851, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05107851
    DOI: 10.1007/s00148-011-0376-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Optimal income taxation; Tax unit; Household labor supply;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General

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