Financiers vs. Engineers: Should the Financial Sector Be Taxed or Subsidized?

28 Pages Posted: 31 Oct 2007 Last revised: 22 Jul 2022

See all articles by Thomas Philippon

Thomas Philippon

New York University (NYU) - Department of Finance; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Date Written: October 2007

Abstract

I study the allocation of human capital in an economy with production externalities, financial constraints and career choices. Agents choose to become entrepreneurs, workers or financiers. Entrepreneurship has positive externalities, but innovators face borrowing constraints and require the services of financiers in order to invest efficiently. When investment and education subsidies are chosen optimally, I find that the financial sector should be taxed in exactly the same way as the non-financial sector. When direct subsidies to investment and scientific education are not feasible, giving a preferred tax treatment to the financial sector can improve welfare by increasing aggregate investment in research and development.

Suggested Citation

Philippon, Thomas, Financiers vs. Engineers: Should the Financial Sector Be Taxed or Subsidized? (October 2007). NBER Working Paper No. w13560, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1024974

Thomas Philippon (Contact Author)

New York University (NYU) - Department of Finance ( email )

Stern School of Business
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New York, NY 10012-1126
United States

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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United States

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