This paper examines estimation of the elasticity of taxable income using instrumental variable regression methods. It is argued that the ‘standard instrument' for the net-of-tax rate − the rate that would be applicable post-reform but with unchanged income levels − is unsatisfactory in...

The empirical literature on the elasticity of taxable income (ETI) sometimes questions whether estimated values are consistent with being on the revenueincreasing section of the Laffer curve, usually in the context of a single rate tax system or for top marginal rates. This paper develops...

A recent review of empirical estimates of the elasticity of taxable income (ETI) concluded that ‘the US marginal top rate is far from the top of the Laffer curve' (Saez et al, 2012, p.42). This paper provides a detailed examination of the analysis underlying this conclusion, and considers...

This paper produces regression estimates of the elasticity of taxable income in New Zealand using two new instruments applied to a substantial tax reform ‘experiment’. Instrumental variable methods are required to deal with endogeneity of the tax rate and taxable income in a non‐linear tax...

This paper derives analytical expressions for the revenue elasticity of consumption taxes and combined income-consumption tax systems, analogous to those familiar for income taxes. It provides measures of tax revenue elasticities which can readily be applied in practice. Analytical results...