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Transfer Motives and Tax Policy

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  • Louis Kaplow

Abstract

This paper considers the optimal tax treatment of voluntary transfers to individuals in a" framework that integrates redistributive income taxation and estate and gift taxation. Under this" formulation, redistributive considerations become secondary. The optimal tax treatment of" transfers depends upon the differences between expenditures on transfers and ordinary personal" consumption. It turns out that some types of transfers confer a sort of positive externality on" donees, some create tax revenue externalities, and some affect donors' and donees' marginal" utilities of income in a manner relevant to the optimal taxation problem. Different types of" transfers have qualitatively different effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Louis Kaplow, 1999. "Transfer Motives and Tax Policy," NBER Working Papers 6340, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:6340
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Cox, Donald, 1987. "Motives for Private Income Transfers," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 95(3), pages 508-546, June.
    7. Buchanan, James M, 1983. "Rent Seeking, Noncompensated Transfers, and Laws of Succession," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 26(1), pages 71-85, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. James Poterba, 1997. "The Estate Tax and After-Tax Investment Returns," NBER Working Papers 6337, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation

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