Journal of Political Economy · 2022 · Alan J. Auerbach、Laurence J. Kotlikoff、Darryl Koehler
中文摘要
本研究衡量年龄组内部的支出能力 (购买力) 不平等,并通过终身净税率估计财政累进性。我们的发现是:第一,收入不平等、尤其是财富不平等,会大大高估支出能力不平等。第二,由于信贷约束、实物形式的政府福利及其他因素,当前支出能力的不平等不同于终身支出能力的不平等。第三,一旦年龄组的年龄大到足以使其人力财富高度分散,美国财政体系便呈现高度累进性。第四,基于当前收入的家庭排序,可能与基于终身资源的家庭排序大相径庭。第五,当年净税率会大大低估财政累进性。
Abstract
This study measures spending power inequality within age cohorts and estimates fiscal progressivity via lifetime net tax rates. We find, first, that inequality in income and especially wealth dramatically overstates inequality in spending power. Second, inequality in current spending power differs from that in lifetime spending power because of credit constraints, in-kind government benefits, and other factors. Third, the US fiscal system is highly progressive once cohorts are old enough to have highly dispersed human wealth. Fourth, households’ rankings based on current income can differ substantially from their rankings based on lifetime resources. Fifth, current-year net tax rates substantially understate fiscal progressivity.