The aim of this paper is to evaluate the performance of the optimal policy (the Gittins index policy) for open tax problems of the type considered byKlimov in the undiscounted limit. In this limit, the state-dependent part of the cost is linear in the state occupation numbers for the multi-armed bandit, but is quadratic for the tax problem. The discussion of the passage to the limit for the tax...

The goal of this paper is to seek new insight regarding international tax policy by recasting it in paraUel with the theory of international trade. This is accomplished by defining a free trade taxation regime as one that is consistent with an efficient worldwide allocation of capital, and evaluating within this perspective various aspects of tax policy, such as value-added taxes, integration, ...

In this paper we analyze how the tax compliance policy affects the rate of economic growth. We consider a model of overlapping generations in which the paths of all the macroeconomic variables are endogenously determined and we perform the comparative statics analysis of changes in both the probability of inspection and the penalty fee imposed on tax evaders. We also show the nonoptimality from...

Federal, state and local governments use a variety of incentives to induce consumer adoption of hybrid-electric vehicles. We study the relative efficacy of state sales tax waivers, income tax credits and non-tax incentives and find that the type of tax incentive offered is as important as the value of the tax incentive. Conditional on value, we find that sales tax waivers are associated a seven...

We study tax evasion and decentralized tax enforcement in a federal economy with mobile capital and the endogenous formation of multiregional companies. Regions use their enforcement policy as a strategic instrument to engage in fiscal competition. Within this framework, we analyze the uncoordinated policy choice under formula apportionment (FA) and compare it to the incentives which derive fro...

In a model with ex-ante homogenous households, income risk and a general earnings function, we derive an optimal labor tax rate and optimal education subsidies. It turns out that the distinction of risk-increasing or risk-decreasing education does not have much effect on the optimal tax rate, but is crucial for optimal education subsidies. Moreover, an optimal education policy allows for better...

Environmental tax schemes in OECD countries often involve tax rates differentiated across industrial, commercial and household sectors. In this paper, we investigate four potentially imprtant arguments for these deviations from uniform taxation: pre-existing tax distortions, domestic equity concerns, global environmental effectiveness, and strategic trade policy. Our primary objective is to asc...

We investigate whether late redistribution programs that can be targeted towards low income families, but may distort savings decisions, can “dominate” early redistribution programs that cannot be targeted due to information constraints. We use simple two-period OLG models with heterogeneous agents under six policy regimes: A model calibrated to the U.S. economy (benchmark), two early redistrib...

Previous studies on public policy under relative consumption concerns have ignored the role of leisure comparisons. This paper considers a two-type optimal nonlinear income tax model where people care both about their relative consumption and their relative leisure. Increased consumption positionality typically implies higher marginal income tax rates for both the high-ability and the low-abili...