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Equilibrium Worker-Firm Allocations and the Deadweight Losses of Taxation

Author

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  • Moen, Espen R.
  • Bagger, Jesper
  • Vejlin, Rune
Abstract
We analyse the deadweight losses of tax-induced labor misallocation in an equilibrium model of the labour market where workers search to climb a job ladder and firms post vacancies. Workers differ in abilities. Jobs differ in productivities and amenities. A planner uses affine tax functions to finance lump-sum transfers to all workers and unemployment benefits. The competitive search equilibrium maximizes after-tax utility subject to resource constraints and the tax policy. A higher tax rate distorts search effort, job ranking and vacancy creation. Distortions vary on the job ladder, but always result in deadweight losses. We calibrate the model using matched employer-employee data from Denmark. The marginal deadweight loss is 33 percent of the tax base, and primarily arise from distorted search effort and vacancy creation. Steeply rising deadweight losses from distorted vacancy creation imply that the deadweight loss in the calibrated economy exceeds those incurred by very inequality averse social planners.

Suggested Citation

  • Moen, Espen R. & Bagger, Jesper & Vejlin, Rune, 2021. "Equilibrium Worker-Firm Allocations and the Deadweight Losses of Taxation," CEPR Discussion Papers 16735, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:16735
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Deadweight loss; Ptimal taxation; Redistribution; Labour allocation; Job search; Job ranking; Vacancy creation; Amenities; Matched employer-employee data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • H30 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - General
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search

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