A Procedure for Evaluating Income Distribution Policies

Edward Gramlich and Michael J. Wolkoff

Journal of Human Resources, 1979, vol. 14, issue 3, 319-350

Abstract: The paper develops a procedure for evaluating the social benefits of income redistribution programs. The procedure makes social benefit a function of both the mean and the variance of family income and needs of the recipients over time, with sensitivity tests to see how benefits change under various assumptions about donor preferences. Costs include budget costs and any gains or losses in producer or consumer surplus. The procedure is applied to three income redistribution programs: negative income taxes, public employment, and minimum wages. Using longitudinal data, we simulate the income needs paths of 2000 families with and without the programs and compare the social benefits and costs for the three programs.

Date: 1979
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:14:y:1979:i:3:p:319-350

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