On the Theory of Optimal Taxation in a Growing Economy

21 Pages Posted: 19 Jun 2004 Last revised: 5 Jun 2022

See all articles by Martin S. Feldstein

Martin S. Feldstein

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) (deceased); Harvard University (deceased)

Date Written: August 1984

Abstract

This paper considers the following question: Would a "golden rule" capital accumulation policy of equating the marginal product of capital to the rate of growth of population be appropriate in a mixed economy in which the government does not have direct control over resource allocation but can use distortionary taxes to obtain resources for augmenting the private capital stock? The key result derived hereis that the golden rule level of capital intensity remains optimal if the tax structure that prevails at the equilibrium does not alter the individual labor supply. This is true even if the constancy of labor supply represents a balancing of income effects and substitution effects of a distortionary tax. In contrast, if the form of the tax and the nature of the utility function imply that labor supply is distorted, the optimal capital intensity will in general not correspond to the golden rule level.

Suggested Citation

Feldstein, Martin S., On the Theory of Optimal Taxation in a Growing Economy (August 1984). NBER Working Paper No. w1435, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=228034

Martin S. Feldstein (Contact Author)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) (deceased)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States
617-868-3905 (Phone)
617-868-7194 (Fax)

Harvard University (deceased)

Littauer Center
1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States
617-495-2167 (Phone)
617-496-5444 (Fax)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
46
Abstract Views
820
PlumX Metrics