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Disincentives from Redistribution: Evidence on a Dividend of Democracy

Author

Listed:
  • Rupert Sausgruber

    (Vienna University of Economics and Business)

  • Axel Sonntag

    (University of Vienna and IHS Vienna)

  • Jean-Robert Tyran

    (Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen, Denmark)

Abstract

We experimentally study the disincentive effect of taxing work and redistributing tax revenues when redistribution is imposed vs. democratically chosen in a vote. We find a "dividend of democracy" in the sense that the disincentive effect is substantially smaller when redistribution is chosen in a vote than when it is imposed. Redistribution seems to be more legitimate, and hence less demotivating, when accepted in a vote.

Suggested Citation

  • Rupert Sausgruber & Axel Sonntag & Jean-Robert Tyran, 2019. "Disincentives from Redistribution: Evidence on a Dividend of Democracy," Discussion Papers 19-08, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:kud:kuiedp:1908
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    Cited by:

    1. repec:osf:socarx:rm2tq_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Dal Bó, Pedro & Foster, Andrew & Kamei, Kenju, 2024. "The democracy effect: A weights-based estimation strategy," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 31-45.
    3. Kenju Kamei & Louis Putterman & Jean-Robert Tyran, 2019. "Civic Engagement as a Second-Order Public Good: The Cooperative Underpinnings of the Accountable State," Discussion Papers 19-10, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics.
    4. Natalia Jiménez-Jiménez & Elena Molis-Bañales & Ángel Solano-García, 2025. "Tax avoidance and voting on income redistribution: A real-effort task experiment," Working Papers 25.07, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Department of Economics.
    5. Bol, Damien & Blais, André & Coulombe, Maxime & Laslier, Jean-François & Pilet, Jean-Benoit, 2023. "Choosing an electoral rule: Values and self-interest in the lab," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    6. Abhijit Ramalingam & Brock V. Stoddard, 2020. "Old habits die hard: The experience of inequality and persistence of low cooperation," Working Papers 20-07, Department of Economics, Appalachian State University.
    7. Marina Chugunova & Wolfgang J. Luhan, 2025. "Ruled by robots: preference for algorithmic decision makers and perceptions of their choices," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 202(1), pages 1-24, January.
    8. Gagnon, Nickolas, 2024. "On your own side of the fence," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    9. Abhijit Ramalingam & Brock V. Stoddard, 2021. "Does reducing inequality increase cooperation?​," GRU Working Paper Series GRU_2021_022, City University of Hong Kong, Department of Economics and Finance, Global Research Unit.
    10. Haeckl, Simone & Sausgruber, Rupert & Tyran, Jean-Robert, 2024. "Work motivation and teams," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    11. Marina Chugunova & Wolfgang J. Luhan, 2022. "Ruled by robots: Preference for algorithmic decision makers and perceptions of their choices," Working Papers in Economics & Finance 2022-03, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth Business School, Economics and Finance Subject Group.
    12. Kölle, Felix, 2020. "Governance and Group Conflict," MPRA Paper 98859, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Jiménez-Jiménez, Natalia & Molis, Elena & Solano-García, Ángel, 2023. "Don't shoot yourself in the foot! A (real-effort task) experiment on income redistribution and voting," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    14. Dervis Kirikkaleli & Kelvin Onyibor, 2020. "The Effects of Financial and Political Risks on Economic Risk in Southern European Countries: A Dynamic Panel Analysis," International Journal of Financial Research, International Journal of Financial Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 11(1), pages 381-393, January.
    15. Natalia Jiménez Jiménez & Elena Molis & Ángel Solano García, 2019. "Why do the poor vote for low tax rates? A (real-effort task) experiment on income redistribution," ThE Papers 19/11, Department of Economic Theory and Economic History of the University of Granada..
    16. Gagnon, Nickolas & Saulle, Riccardo D. & Zaunbrecher, Henrik W., "undated". "Decreasing Incomes Increase Selfishness," FEEM Working Papers 317127, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM).
    17. Reindl, Ilona & Tyran, Jean-Robert, 2021. "Equal opportunities for all? How income redistribution promotes support for economic inclusion," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 390-407.
    18. Ramalingam, Abhijit & Stoddard, Brock V., 2024. "Does reducing inequality increase cooperation?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 170-183.
    19. Natalia Jiménez-Jiménez & Elena Molis-Bañales & Ángel Solano-García, 2025. "Meritocracy and Income Redistribution: a real-effort task experiment with tax avoidance," Working Papers 25.05, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Department of Economics.
    20. Kerstin Mitterbacher & Stefan Palan & Jürgen Fleiß, 2024. "Intergroup cooperation in the lab: asymmetric power relations and redistributive policies," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 51(4), pages 877-912, November.
    21. Ghesla, Claus & Sonntag, Axel, 2019. "Framed Payslips and People's Reactions to Labor Tax Changes," MPRA Paper 97731, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    22. Thomas Markussen & Jean-Robert Tyran, 2023. "Is There a Dividend of Democracy? Experimental Evidence from Cooperation Games," CESifo Working Paper Series 10616, CESifo.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies

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