I demonstrate how the discrete model of optimum income taxation can be used to derive the structure of optimal income tax rates. I compare simulations of the discrete and continuous models of optimum income taxation under identical circumstances, based on U.S. wage data. The two models produce...

A neglected implication of the choice of the tax unit is its impact on the consumption risk carried by taxpayers. As compared to individual taxation, joint taxation with income splitting provides couples with more insurance against the risk of earning inability for one of the spouses. If that...

There is an inconsistency between the way income tax progressivity is measured and the policy instruments typically used by the income tax authorities. This inconsistency leads to violation of Feldstein´s principle of horizontal equity and causes unintentional reranking among families of...

Mental accounting practices of self-employed taxpayers are investigated in two studies. Interviews (N=30) revealed that perceptions of the tax due differ widely. While a majority mentally segregate the tax component from their net income, others claim ownership of the gross income as a whole and...

Over the last few years concern for income inequality in Europe has increased remarkably. In this context, taxation is an important redistributive instrument, and we investigate the redistributive role of direct taxes. We focus on the EU-15 countries and the evolution over the period 1998-2008,...

The present paper quantifies the economic consequences of eliminating the system of income splitting in Germany. We apply a dynamic simulation model with overlapping generations where single and married agents decide on labor supply and homework under income and life-span risk. We compute...

Although consumption-based direct taxation has long been advocated in academic and policy circles, very few countries have actually implemented such taxes.This article provides an overview of alternative approaches to direct consumption taxation and examines arguments favoring consumption taxes...

This paper empirically analyzes whether both personal and corporate taxation have an influence on companies´ capital structure decisions. We investigate the effect of the difference in taxation of debt and equity financing on capital structure. Our empirical results, based on a panel of...

We analyze the distributive justice of the combined burden of taxes, social security contributions, and public transfers on employee households. Comparing eight different household types, we utilize the concept of horizontal equity regarding the treatment of families in the German tax-benefit...

Generational Accounting is only a shortcut to a general equilibrium analysis because it is assumed that individual decisions are unaffected by policy reforms. Nonetheless only two studies examine the accuracy of Generational Accounting, but Fehr and Kotlikoff (1996) consider changes in...