10.17889/E111973
Diamond, Peter
Spinnewijn, Johannes
Replication data for: Capital Income Taxes with Heterogeneous Discount Rates
ICPSR Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research
2010
10.1257/pol.3.4.52
10.1257/pol.3.4.52
V0
With heterogeneity in both skills and discount factors, the Atkinson-
Stiglitz theorem that savings should not be taxed does not hold. In a model with heterogeneity of preferences at each earnings level, introducing a savings tax on high earners or a savings subsidy on low earners increases welfare, regardless of the correlation between ability and discount factor. Extending Emmanuel Saez (2002), a uniform savings tax increases welfare if that correlation is sufficiently high. Key for the results is that types who value future consumption less are more tempted by a lower paid job. Some optimal tax results
and empirical evidence are presented. (JEL D14, H21, H24)