The Insurance Value of State Tax-and-Transfer Programs

Hilary Hoynes and Erzo Luttmer

No 16280, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: This paper estimates the total value that individuals derive from their state's tax-and-transfer program, and shows how this value varies by income. The paper decomposes this total value into two components: redistributive value, which is due to predictable changes in income (and family circumstances), and insurance value, which occurs when taxes and transfers compensate for unexpected income shocks. Our approach is a forward-looking one, where we examine income and transfers net of taxes over a 10-year period. We model state taxes (personal income taxes, the EITC, and sales taxes) and state means-tested transfers (AFDC/TANF and Medicaid/SCHIP). The calculations are made using the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and allow for analysis of the determinants of changes in the value of state net benefits over a more than 30-year period. We find that the redistributive value of state tax-and-transfer programs sharply declines with income, but that the insurance value of transfers is increasing in income. The resulting total value still declines with income, but not nearly as sharply as the redistributive value. Hence, the insurance value mitigates the incentives for mobility that would "undo" state redistributive spending.

JEL-codes: H2 H75 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-08
Note: PE
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

Published as Hoynes, Hilary W. & Luttmer, Erzo F.P., 2011. "The insurance value of state tax-and-transfer programs," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(11), pages 1466-1484.
Published as The Insurance Value of State Tax-and-Transfer Programs , Hilary W. Hoynes, Erzo F. P. Luttmer. in Fiscal Federalism , Cullen and Gordon. 2012

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Related works:
Journal Article: The insurance value of state tax-and-transfer programs (2011)
Chapter: The Insurance Value of State Tax-and-Transfer Programs (2010)
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