This applied theoretical paper finds that in-work benefits recipients tend to increase labor income, regardless of the benefits' structure. A theory, the fixed cost of living, is used to explain this finding. Several applications of this theory are given. First, a critical review shows why the...

We estimate the response of product-level retail prices to changes in the corporate tax rates paid by wholesale producers (pass-through). Under perfect competition in goods and factor markets, pass-through of corporate taxes should be zero, and their incidence mainly falls on factor prices. We...

We estimate the response of product-level retail prices to changes in the corporate tax rates paid by wholesale producers (pass-through). Under perfect competition in goods and factor markets, pass-through of corporate taxes should be zero, and their incidence mainly falls on factor prices. We...

This paper estimates the pass through of VAT changes to consumer prices, using a uniquedataset providing disaggregated, monthly data on prices and VAT rates for 17 Eurozonecountries over 1999-2013. Pass through is much less than full on average, and differsmarkedly across types of VAT change....

This paper estimates the pass through of VAT changes to consumer prices, using a unique dataset providing disaggregated, monthly data on prices and VAT rates for 17 Eurozone countries over 1999-2013. Pass through is much less than full on average, and differs markedly across types of VAT change....

The value-added tax is one of the most important tax revenue sources in many countries. However, it is sometimes considered unfair as it ultimately hits consumption, and poorer households spend a greater share of their income on consumption. But this depends on whether, and to what degree, the...