Taxing Top CEO Incomes

S-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review
Year: 2016
Volume: 106
Issue: 11
Pages: 3331-66

Authors (2)

Laurence Ales (Carnegie Mellon University) Christopher Sleet (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

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

Abstract

We use a firm-CEO assignment framework to model the market for CEO effective labor. In the model's equilibrium, more talented CEOs match with and supply more effort to larger firms. Taxation of CEO incomes affects the equilibrium pricing of CEO effective labor and, hence, spills over and affects firm profits. Absent the ability to tax profits or a direct concern for firm owners, a standard prescription for high marginal income taxes emerges. However, given such an ability or concern, the optimal marginal tax rates are much lower.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aecrev:v:106:y:2016:i:11:p:3331-66
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-24