Digging Into the Channels of Bunching: Evidence from the Uruguayan Income Tax

A-Tier
Journal: Economic Journal
Year: 2021
Volume: 131
Issue: 639
Pages: 2726-2762

Authors (5)

Marcelo Bergolo (Universidad de la República) Gabriel Burdin (University of Leeds) Mauricio De Rosa (not in RePEc) Matias Giaccobasso (not in RePEc) Martin Leites (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.804 = (α=2.01 / 5 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

Based on detailed administrative tax records, we implement a bunching design to explore how individual taxpayers respond to personal income taxation in Uruguay. We estimate a very modest elasticity of taxable income at the first kink point (0.06) driven by a combination of gross labour income and deduction responses. Taxpayers use personal deductions more intensively close to the kink point and underreport income to the tax authority. Our results suggest that the efficiency costs of taxation are not necessarily large in contexts characterised by limited deduction opportunities. Policy efforts should be directed at broadening the tax base and improving enforcement capacity.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:econjl:v:131:y:2021:i:639:p:2726-2762.
Journal Field
General
Author Count
5
Added to Database
2026-01-24