In this paper, the effects of capital income taxation on wage formation are studied using OECD data. The results indicate that a rise in the tax rate on capital income will reduce real wages and increase employment.

When individuals compare themselves to those with the same wage-rate, status concerns–Keeping up with the Joneses–lead individuals to work who otherwise would have chosen not to, and, for them, well-being is a decreasing function of the wage rate.

An alternative empirical method to estimating the labour supply function is proposed, based upon subjective wellbeing data. It potentially addresses limitations of the standard neo-classical approach by allowing workers’ observed hours worked to deviate from their utility maximising point.

Mandatory profit sharing can represent a Pareto-improvement if labour supply is excessive due to relative consumption effects. Profit sharing reduces wages. If the rise in profit income keeps total income constant, there will only be a Pareto-improving substitution effect.