This paper develops a comprehensive framework for analyzing the revenue, efficiency and social welfare implications of top income taxation. It generalizes the Saez (2001) formula for the optimal top tax rate by deriving analytical expressions for the Laffer curve and excess burden. Applied to...

Rising levels of income inequality and tight government budgets have spurred discussions in many developing nations about how to appropriately tax high-income earners. In this paper, we study taxpayer responses to an increase in the top marginal tax rate in South Africa, drawing on exceptionally...

This dataset reports statutory central government personal income tax rates for wage income plus the taxable income thresholds at which these statutory rates apply. Thresholds are expressed in national currency.

This dataset reports average personal income tax and social security contribution rates for a single person without dependent, at various multiples (67%, 100%, 133%, 167%) of the AW/APW. The average wage (AW) is based on a single person at 100% of average earnings, no child. The results use tax...