Austerity and Distributional Policy
85 Pages Posted: 28 Oct 2020
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Austerity and Distributional Policy
Date Written: 2020
Abstract
What are the effects of austerity on distributional policy? We exploit the autonomy of Italian municipalities in setting non-linear income taxes and the exogenous introduction of a fiscal rule to show that austerity increases tax progressivity. Consistent with this evidence, we find that in a panel of countries austerity correlates with higher marginal tax rates on top, but not on average earners. The increase in progressivity in Italy is driven by mayors having college-degree or working in high-skill occupations, while less-educated or lower-skilled mayors raise taxes uniformly. In the first post-reform election, mayors of former type have higher reelection odds.
Keywords: austerity, fiscal rules, non-linear income taxation, difference-in-discontinuity
JEL Classification: D780, H240, H700
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation