Distributive Policies and Economic Growth: An Optimal Taxation Approach

Günther Rehme

No ECO 1999/36, Economics Working Papers from European University Institute

Abstract: In an infinite-horizon, endogenous growth model a capital income cum investment subsidy tax is considered to investigate if distribution of income towards the non-accumulated factor of production (labour) retards growth and if capital income taxes are bad instruments to finance investment subsidies. The paper identifies conditions under which the tax scheme is better for growth than other distorting tax schemes. In the model a “left-wing’ (pro-labour) government acts growth maximizing, and distributing income towards labour raises growth. A ‘right-wing” (pro-capital) government’s preferred policy is not growth maximizing under the tax scheme but may generate higher growth than its optimal, growth maximizing policy under other tax schemes.

Keywords: Growth; Distribution; Investment Subsidies; Capital Income Taxes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D33 H21 O41 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1999
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Distributive Policies and Economic Growth: An Optimal Taxation Approach (2002)
Working Paper: Distributive Policies and Economic Growth: An Optimal Taxation Approach (2002)
Working Paper: Distributive Policies and Economic Growth: an Optimal Taxation Approach (1999)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eui:euiwps:eco1999/36

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