Optimal Tax Structure for Consumption and Income Inequality: An Empirical Assessment

REM Working Paper 051-2018

15 Pages Posted: 4 Dec 2018

See all articles by António Afonso

António Afonso

University of Lisbon - ISEG (School of Economics and Management); UECE (Research Unit on Complexity and Economics); ISEG Lisbon School of Economics and Management,Universidade de Lisboa; REM - Research in Economics and Mathematics

José Alves

Technical University of Lisbon (UTL) - Department of Economics; UECE - Research Unit on Complexity in Economics

Date Written: October 22, 2018

Abstract

In the present empirical analysis, we try to assess the impact of taxation on investment growth. In particular, and by using gross fixed capital formation as a proxy for investment, we intend to evaluate the impact of the taxation structure in investment dynamics, in a short and a long-run perspectives. This empirical exercise was conducted for all OECD countries, during the 1980-2015 period. Through panel data econometric techniques, we find optimal tax-investment threshold values, especially higher for short-term than for long-term horizon. In addition, we find optimal income taxation around 9%, in percentage of GDP, an average optimal value of 12.7% for consumption taxes to promote annual investment growth.

Keywords: Investment Growth, Tax systems, Fiscal Policy, Optimal taxation

JEL Classification: D25, E62, H21, O47

Suggested Citation

Afonso, António and Alves, José and Alves, José, Optimal Tax Structure for Consumption and Income Inequality: An Empirical Assessment (October 22, 2018). REM Working Paper 051-2018, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3271380 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3271380

António Afonso (Contact Author)

University of Lisbon - ISEG (School of Economics and Management) ( email )

R. Miguel Lupi, 20
Lisbon, 1248-078
Portugal
+351 21 392 5985 (Phone)
+351 21 396 6407 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.iseg.ulisboa.pt/aquila/homepage/aafonso/research

UECE (Research Unit on Complexity and Economics)

Rua Miguel Lupi 20
Lisbon, 1249-078
Portugal
+351-213 925 912 (Phone)
+351-213 971 196 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://uece.rc.iseg.ulisboa.pt/

ISEG Lisbon School of Economics and Management,Universidade de Lisboa ( email )

Rua do Quelhas 6
LISBOA, 1200-781
Portugal

REM - Research in Economics and Mathematics ( email )

ISEG, Universidade de Lisboa
Rua Miguel Lupi, 20
Lisboa, 1249-078
Portugal

HOME PAGE: http://rem.rc.iseg.ulisboa.pt/

José Alves

Technical University of Lisbon (UTL) - Department of Economics ( email )

R. Miguel Lupi, 20
Lisbon, 1248-078
Portugal

UECE - Research Unit on Complexity in Economics ( email )

ISEG/UTL, Rua Miguel Lupi 20
Lisboa, 1249-078
Portugal

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