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Distributional analysis of prospective 2009 US individual income taxes: current law and the candidates’ tax plans

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  • Berliant, Marcus
  • Strauss, Robert P.

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to compare the distributional characteristics of two presidential candidates’ proposed reforms to the US federal individual income tax. Using an anonymous sample of tax return data from the Brookings-Urban Institute Tax Policy Center and the Center’s simulations of 2009 tax law and the two proposals, we compare the vertical and horizontal equity of the three individual income tax regimes. Surprisingly, there is very little difference among the three proposed individual income tax regimes in terms of vertical and horizontal equity. However, when the initial effective tax rate positions and economic incomes of each pair of taxpayers are compared to the new effective tax rate positions under the two proposals, we find that the Obama proposal makes the tax system more progressive than 2009 law. This change is much more pronounced than under the McCain proposal. On the other hand, when these initial positions are compared to the two proposals viz. a viz. horizontal equity, the McCain proposed tax system is more horizontally equitable than 2009 tax law, and more horizontally equitable than the Obama proposal is when compared to 2009 tax law.

Suggested Citation

  • Berliant, Marcus & Strauss, Robert P., 2008. "Distributional analysis of prospective 2009 US individual income taxes: current law and the candidates’ tax plans," MPRA Paper 11221, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:11221
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    File URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/11221/1/MPRA_paper_11221.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Tulai Constantin & Moga Aura Carmen & Schiau Laura Liana & Paltinean Luminita, 2010. "Equity And Income Tax Redistribution," Annals of Faculty of Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 1(2), pages 652-656, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Tax equity; McCain tax plan; Obama tax plan;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies

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