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Voluntary pension savings and tax incentives: Evidence from Finland

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  • Harju, Jarkko

Abstract

This paper studies empirically savers' behavioral responses to the Finnish tax reform of 2005 by using comprehensive panel data. The tax schedule of voluntary pension savings changed from progressive to proportional, changing the saving incentives in different subgroups. The results indicate that the reform altered saving behavior by reducing voluntary pension saving coverage among high income-earners by 4 percentage points and increasing it among low incomeearners by 2 percentage points. The reform also reduced annual saving contributions among high income-earners by over 20 percent. The estimated effects result entirely from the changed saving behavior of men.

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  • Harju, Jarkko, 2012. "Voluntary pension savings and tax incentives: Evidence from Finland," Working Papers 33, VATT Institute for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:fer:wpaper:33
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    Cited by:

    1. Hokkanen, Joni & Kangasharju, Aki & Linnosmaa, Ismo & Valtonen, Hannu, 2012. "Generic substitution policy, prices and market structure: evidence from a quasi-experiment in Finland," Working Papers 35, VATT Institute for Economic Research.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Voluntary pension savings; tax reform; tax incentives; Taxation; Verotus; Taxation and Social Transfers; Julkisen talouden rahoitus ja tulonsiirrot; H240 - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies; includes inheritance and gift taxes; H310 - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents: Household (effects on labor supply);
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household

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