Can Tax Rebates Stimulate Consumption Spending in a Life-Cycle Model?

A-Tier
Journal: American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics
Year: 2014
Volume: 6
Issue: 1
Pages: 162-89

Authors (2)

Jonathan Huntley (not in RePEc) Valentina Michelangeli (Banca d'Italia)

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We build a life-cycle model with earnings risk, liquidity constraints, and portfolio choice over tax-deferred and taxable assets to evaluate how household consumption changes in response to shocks to transitory anticipated income, such as the 2001 income tax rebate. Households optimally invest in tax-deferred assets, which are encumbered by withdrawal penalties, and exchange taxable precautionary savings for higher after-tax returns. The model predicts a higher marginal propensity to consume out of a rebate than is predicted by a standard frictionless life-cycle model. Liquidity-constrained households?with few financial assets or portfolios expensive to reallocate?consume a higher fraction of the rebates.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aejmac:v:6:y:2014:i:1:p:162-89
Journal Field
Macro
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-26