Optimal tax systems with endogenous behavioral biases

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Public Economics
Year: 2021
Volume: 197
Issue: C

Authors (2)

Moore, Dylan T. (not in RePEc) Slemrod, Joel (University of Michigan)

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 develop an optimal tax framework that combines two recent extensions of tax analysis: a tax-systems emphasis on non-rate policy instruments, and a recognition of the role of behavioral biases. Although the implications of taxpayers’ biases for optimal tax rates have received considerable attention, a complete analysis of this aspect of optimal tax theory must account for the fact that such biases are often endogenous to the non-rate aspects of a tax system. We first generalize and extend the analysis of optimal tax systems to incorporate endogenous behavioral biases. We then develop a novel and important application of this issue, showing how misperception of the tax rate affects the optimal breadth of the tax base.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:pubeco:v:197:y:2021:i:c:s0047272721000207
Journal Field
Public
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29