Elasticity of Taxable Income and Deadweight Loss

Abstract

The paper estimates elasticities of taxable income using Household Income and Expenditure Survey from 1991 to 2004, and analyzes deadweight loss of income tax. To estimate elasticities of taxable income, the paper utilizes both time-series variations in tax code changes of 1993, 1996, 2002 and cross-sectional variation. Using repeated panel data, the paper estimates differences in the estimates of various taxable income brackets. The elasticities of taxable income includes behavioral response of income tax changes as well as substitution and income effect on labor supply. The paper finds that the elasticities of taxable income on net of tax rate have both positive and negative values, and that their sizes are various. The estimates depend on tax code changes and income brackets, and the choice of after-treatment time period. On average, the estimates lay below 1, and the size of them are not too higher compared to the literatures analyzing the US income tax effects. The deadweight loss of income tax are various as elasticities of taxable income, generally showing less than 1 won and less than 10 won per tax revenue 100 won. Except some outlier, they are less than 50 won per tax revenue 100won. On average, the deadweight loss per tax revenue 100 won show 5.79~13.66 won for 1993 reform, 10.27~23.88 won for 1996 reform, and 7.75~17.69 won for 2002 reform. Comparing the elasticities and deadweight loss between income brackets, the relative elasticities of taxable income of higher income bracket tend to be smaller and positive, leading small deadweight loss calculation. On contrast, the comparison of lower income brackets tends to show higher elasticities with negative signs, leading higher deadweight loss calculation.