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The Societal Costs of Taxation – What Do We Know About the Adverse Effects of Finnish Taxes

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  • Ropponen, Olli

Abstract

This report examines the benefits of different types of taxes in relation to their adverse effects, using a modeling framework and the international economic research literature. The basis for the study is literature on the causal effects of different tax types on their respective tax bases. These effects play a central role in determining the welfare losses caused by taxation and are therefore at the core of assessing the adverse effects of taxation. The modeling framework, in turn, makes it possible to incorporate causal effects directly into welfare analysis without the need for information that is less commonly reported in empirical studies, such as so-called compensated effects. The report examines several different types of taxes which, taken together, account for 84 percent of all taxes and tax-like revenues projected for the Finnish central government in 2026. Based on the results, clear differences are observed in the balance between benefits and adverse effects, both across different types of taxes and across different groups of taxpayers.

Suggested Citation

  • Ropponen, Olli, 2026. "The Societal Costs of Taxation – What Do We Know About the Adverse Effects of Finnish Taxes," ETLA Reports 172, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    • Handle: RePEc:rif:report:172
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Reetta Varjonen-Ollus, 2025. "Behavioural Effects of a Top Marginal Income Tax Rate Increase," Working Papers 39, Finnish Centre of Excellence in Tax Systems Research.
    2. Varjonen-Ollus, Reetta, 2025. "Behavioural Effects of a Top Marginal Income Tax Rate Increase," Working Papers 180, VATT Institute for Economic Research.
    3. J. E. Stiglitz & P. Dasgupta, 1971. "Differential Taxation, Public Goods, and Economic Efficiency," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 38(2), pages 151-174.
    4. Trabandt, Mathias & Uhlig, Harald, 2011. "The Laffer curve revisited," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(4), pages 305-327.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • D61 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Allocative Efficiency; Cost-Benefit Analysis
    • H30 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - General

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