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Idiosyncratic Risk in the U.S. and Sweden: Is there a Role for Government Insurance?

Author

Listed:
  • Flodén, Martin

    (Institute for International Economic Studies, Stockholm University)

  • Linde, Jesper

    (Handelshögskolan)

Abstract

We examine the effects of government redistribution schemes in an economy where agents are subject to uninsurable, individual specific productivity risk. In particular, we consider the trade-off between positive insurance effects and negative distortions on labor supply. We parameterize the model by estimating productivity processe on Swedish and U.S. data. The estimation results show that agents in the U.S. are subject to more idiosynchratic risk than agents in sweden. Distortions are significant but agents, particularly in the U.S., still like some government insurance. As a result of this exercice, we can construct Laffer curves for both countries. These peak when labor income tax rates are around 60 percent.

Suggested Citation

  • Flodén, Martin & Linde, Jesper, 1998. "Idiosyncratic Risk in the U.S. and Sweden: Is there a Role for Government Insurance?," Seminar Papers 654, Stockholm University, Institute for International Economic Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:iiessp:0654
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Idiosyncratic Risk; Inequality; Insurance; Redistribution; Laffer Curve; Distributions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E20 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation

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