A positive theory of tax reform

Ethan Ilzetzki

LSE Research Online Documents on Economics from London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library

Abstract: The political impediments to reform and the forces allowing its success are studied in a model where the tax base and statutory rate are separate instruments of tax policy. The model predicts that big bang reforms—large changes in the tax code–may be easier to enact than marginal reforms. Preferences over the tax base face a tipping point where even the beneficiaries from tax exemptions support reform. At such a “reform moment”, tax reform is Pareto improving. Politically feasible tax reform occurs when fiscal needs are large, but may nonetheless involve reductions in marginal tax rates. There is strategic complementary in lobbying for tax exemptions, resulting in multiple equilibria. Evidence from tax-base changes in a panel of OECD countries supports a number of the main predictions.

JEL-codes: D72 D78 H26 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 55 pages
Date: 2015-10-20
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/86283/ Open access version. (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: A Positive Theory of Tax Reform (2015)
Working Paper: A Positive Theory of Tax Reform (2015)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ehl:lserod:86283

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