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Optimal Fiscal Policy with Endogenous Product Variety

Author

Listed:
  • Fabio Ghironi

    (Boston College)

  • Sanjay K. Chugh

    (University of Maryland)

Abstract

We study optimal fiscal policy when product variety is endogenous and products are long-lived assets for firms. Depending on preferences, product creation should be either subsidized or taxed in the long run, by subsidizing or taxing dividends. In the most empirically relevant case, dividends should be taxed quite heavily (positive capital income taxation). Moreover, regardless of preferences, labor income tax smoothing is not optimal. The standard deviation of the optimal tax rate is much larger than tax-smoothing results. Both long-run dividend taxation and lack of tax smoothing follow from the long-lived nature of products with optimally priced product creation.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabio Ghironi & Sanjay K. Chugh, 2010. "Optimal Fiscal Policy with Endogenous Product Variety," 2010 Meeting Papers 812, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:sed010:812
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    JEL classification:

    • E20 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory

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