Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/304385 
Year of Publication: 
2024
Series/Report no.: 
GLO Discussion Paper No. 1508
Publisher: 
Global Labor Organization (GLO), Essen
Abstract: 
This paper refines the concept of disposable income by incorporating governmentprovided in-kind benefits for education and health services, as well as imputed VAT payments, following Figari and Paulus (2015). Our analysis reveals that including these elements significantly reduces income inequality, as seen in a decrease in the Gini coefficient across all examined countries. While direct taxes and cash benefits are the main drivers of redistribution, in-kind benefits also play a substantial role, while VAT having a smaller, negative impact. Our study highlights that additionally extending the income concept increases also the targeting of the tax benefit system to low-income households, however to a very different extend across the EU Member States. Our new, broader approach allows for more accurate assessments of redistribution and cross-country comparisons, offering valuable insights for EU-level policy evaluations.
Subjects: 
tax-benefits model
EUROMOD
welfare state
in-kind benefits
indirect taxes
redistribution
JEL: 
H23
I38
H24
D31
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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