A Distribution-Neutral Perspective on Tax Expenditure Limitations

Tax Policy and the Economy, Vol. 31, Robert Moffitt, ed., Forthcoming

John M. Olin Center for Law, Economics, and Business Discussion Paper No. 885

23 Pages Posted: 7 Oct 2016

See all articles by Louis Kaplow

Louis Kaplow

Harvard Law School; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: October 6, 2016

Abstract

A recent wave of literature, partly motivated by presidential campaign tax reform plans, analyzes tax expenditure limitation proposals. These reforms are often advanced not only, or even primarily, because they reduce distortions caused by favoritism for some types of expenditures over others. Largely they are urged for a number of other reasons: on distributive grounds, because the resulting broader base enables lower marginal tax rates and hence less distortion of labor effort and other margins, and to raise revenue without requiring higher marginal tax rates. It is generally recognized that the particular results on these dimensions are heavily dependent on what sorts of rate adjustments are used to return the proceeds to taxpayers. Often, revenue neutrality is assumed. This essay advances a complementary, distribution-neutral perspective on the analysis of tax expenditure limitations. Distribution-neutral implementation provides an illuminating benchmark against which to understand prior analysts’ large number of results and, more importantly, clarifies the analysis, particularly of the distribution-distortion trade-off. The central lessons contradict the common belief that one can have less distortion of labor supply through lower marginal tax rates while also maintaining or enhancing progressivity.

Keywords: Tax Expenditures, Distribution-Neutral, Progressivity, Marginal Tax Rates, Optimal Taxation, Tax Reform, Distribution

JEL Classification: H21, H22, H23, H24, K34

Suggested Citation

Kaplow, Louis, A Distribution-Neutral Perspective on Tax Expenditure Limitations (October 6, 2016). Tax Policy and the Economy, Vol. 31, Robert Moffitt, ed., Forthcoming , John M. Olin Center for Law, Economics, and Business Discussion Paper No. 885, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2848500

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