In traditional life insurance, typically return smoothing mechanisms are used to reduce the volatility of policyholders' returns and provide risk sharing between policyholders. By analyzing two illustrative smoothing mechanisms, we demonstrate that different smoothing mechanisms may have...

This paper evaluates the redistributive and labour supply effects of transitioning from a joint to a fully individualised income tax system in Ireland. The current Irish tax system, which remains partially joint since the early 2000's, provides a financial advantage to married couples by...