U.S. Municipal bonds offer tax free investments to U.S. investors. Yet, they could become subject to taxation if they are purchased or sold in the secondary market. The tax rules are complex. We define four key principles that govern the taxation of municipal bonds

We consider how state income tax changes affect the demand for municipal bonds by in-state investors. A tax increase (decrease) makes investing in municipal bonds more (less) desirable, and theory predicts a change in demand by investors until the yields on municipal bonds reach a new...

How responsive is the supply of tax-exempt bonds to state and local government borrowing costs? This question is critical to the effectiveness of current federal tax policies designed to stimulate investment in infrastructure and education. Would states borrow more if their cost of capital were...

We study the valuation of state-issued tax-exempt municipal bonds and find that there are significant convenience premia in their prices. These premia parallel those identified in Treasury markets. We find evidence that these premia are tax related. Specifically, the premia are related to...