Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/101849 
Year of Publication: 
2014
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 8276
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
In this paper we argue that, for a given overall level of labour income taxation, a more progressive tax schedule increases employment. From a theoretical point of view, higher progressivity increases overall employment through a wage moderating effect and also because employment of low-paid workers is more elastic to wages. We test these theoretical predictions on a panel of 21 OECD countries over 1998-2008. Controlling for the burden of taxation at the average wage, our estimates suggest that a more progressive tax schedule reduces the unemployment rate and increases the employment rate. These findings are confirmed when we account for the potential endogeneity of both average taxation and progressivity. Overall, our results suggest that policy-makers should not only focus on the detrimental effects of tax progressivity on in-work effort, but also consider the employment-enhancing effects.
Subjects: 
wage moderation
employment
taxation
JEL: 
E24
H22
J68
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
541.25 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.