Tax-preferred savings accounts and marginal tax rates: evidence on RRSP participation

Kevin Milligan

Canadian Journal of Economics, 2002, vol. 35, issue 3, 436-456

Abstract: The effect of taxes on participation in Registered Retirement Savings Plans between 1982 and 1996 is studied. Interprovincial changes in the tax structure over this period provide identifying variation. Using this variation, I find that taxes influence households' participation decisions, but more weakly than previously estimated. A 10 percentage point increase in the marginal tax rate is estimated to increase the probability of participation by 8 per cent. This explains only 5.1 per cent of the trend in participation. I also find suggestive evidence that the carryforward mechanism may be used as an instrument for tax base smoothing.

JEL-codes: H24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2002
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (25)

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Journal Article: Tax–preferred savings accounts and marginal tax rates: evidence on RRSP participation (2002)
Working Paper: Tax-Preferred Savings Accounts and Marginal Tax Rates: Evidence on RRSP Participation (2001)
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