We show that the optimal property tax rate rises with the ratio of land rents to structure and land development costs. California's high ratio of income to property tax revenue and the distribution of Federal housing subsidies thus appear geographically misplaced. Proportional taxation of...

This paper presents the first investigation of the effects of optimal energy taxation in an urban spatial setting. Rather than exploring the effects of a carbon tax, our approach is to derive the supplements to existing taxes that are needed to support the social optimum. We then analyze the...

Ausgehend vom bekannten Resultat von Atkinson und Stiglitz kommt man im Standardmodell der optimalen Besteuerung zum Schluss, dass eine Erbschaftssteuer ebenso wie andere indirekte Steuern keine Funktion hat, wenn eine optimale nichtlineare Einkommensteuer eingehoben wird. Beruecksichtigt man...

Inherited wealth creates a second distinguishing characteristic of individuals, in addition to earning abilities. We incorporate this fact into a model of optimal labor income taxation, with bequests motivated by joy of giving. We find that taxes on bequests or on inheritances allow further...