Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/150942 
Year of Publication: 
2011
Series/Report no.: 
SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research No. 397
Publisher: 
Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW), Berlin
Abstract: 
The idea of higher wealth taxes to finance the mounting public debt in the wake of the financial crises is gaining ground in several OECD countries. We evaluate the revenue and distributional effects of a one-time capital levy on personal net wealth that is currently on the German political agenda. We use survey data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) and estimate the net wealth distribution at the very top, based on publicly available information about very rich Germans. Since net wealth is strongly concentrated, the capital levy could raise substantial revenue, even if relatively high personal allowances are granted. We also analyze the compliance and administrative costs of the capital levy.
Subjects: 
Capital levy
wealth distribution
microsimulation
JEL: 
H24
D31
H22
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
240.47 kB





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