On the Marginal Welfare Cost of Taxation

This paper develops a rigorous partial equilibrium analysis of the determinants of margin al welfare cost (MWC) of taxes on labor earnings. It shows that four key parameters interact to determine the magnitude of MWC. Using aggregate data and plausible ranges of values for the parameters, MWC can vary from under 10 percent to more than 300 percent of marginal tax revenue. Intermediate parameter values sugge st MWC is in the 25-50 percent range. However, the more extreme estimates cannot be ruled out on the basis of available evidence, suggesting that MWC cannot yet be Copyright 1987 by American Economic Association.

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