How is the optimal level of Pigouvian taxation influenced by distributive concerns? With second-best instruments, a higher level of income redistribution calls for a lower level of Pigouvian taxation. More redistribution implies higher distortions from income taxation. Pigouvian tax revenues...

This paper deals with environmental policy in an economic federation, where each national (lower level) government faces a mixed tax problem. We assume that the federal government sets emission targets, which are implemented at the national level. We also assume that the economic federation is...

It is often argued that without tax-exemptions for the production sector environmental tax reforms substantially reduce profits and endanger employment. We challenge this view and investigate the consequences of both a small and alarge tax reform in the case of a monopoly. We show that these...

This paper analyzes taxes and transfers in an economy with three distinct levels of government. It is assumed that the different levels of government raise revenue through distortionary income taxation, resulting in vertical fiscal externalities. We show how to implement a socially optimal...

This paper deals with optimal income and commodity taxation in an economy, where alcohol is an externality-generating consumption good. In our model, alcohol can be bought domestically, imported, or produced illegally. Border trade alone implies an incentive to set the domestic alcohol tax below...

We follow Wellisch (1994) in examining the efficiency of regional policymaking in a model with interregional spillovers and in which individuals are attached to regions for cultural reasons. In addition, we assume that regions desire to maintain their social cohesion. We postulate that regional...

The paper deals with distributional issues in environmental economics. It considers a single-good market under perfect competition and a negative externality. The decision-maker uses an emission standard or an emission tax, whose revenue is recycled. Under the assumption that she distinguishes...

This paper analyzes how a fiscal transfer scheme affects tax cooperation in a repeated-interaction model of tax competition. In particular, the paper studies whether a fiscal transfer scheme promotes or blocks voluntary tax cooperation. It is shown that the larger the scale of fiscal transfer...

Research on tax behavior has recognized the necessity of changing tax authorities' approach from an enforcement to a service orientation. However, empirical investigations of the effect of perceived service orientation on tax compliance are scarce. The present study draws conclusions from survey...

A neglected implication of the choice of the tax unit is its impact on the consumption risk carried by taxpayers. As compared to individual taxation, joint taxation with income splitting provides couples with more insurance against the risk of earning inability for one of the spouses. If that...