社会转移支付与空间扭曲
Social Transfers and Spatial Distortions
Journal of Labor Economics · 2023 · [{"name": "Mark Colas", "affiliation": []}, {"name": "Robert J. McDonough", "affiliation": []}]
中文摘要
美国的社会转移支付项目在各州之间存在显著差异，激励家庭迁往转移支付更为慷慨的州。此外，转移支付计算公式通常随收入增加而递减，因而奖励低收入家庭居住在低工资城市。我们将空间均衡模型与美国转移支付项目的详细模型相结合，对这些扭曲进行量化。现行制度导致的区位无效率相当于转移支付总支出的4.88%。一项既统一各州转移支付政策、又按照当地平均收入对家庭收入进行指数化调整的改革，在保持项目资产审查型性质的同时，可将这种无效率降低60%以上。
Abstract
US social transfer programs vary substantially across states, incentivizing households to locate in states with more generous transfer programs. Furthermore, transfer formulas often decrease in income, thereby rewarding low-income households for living in low-paying cities. We quantify these distortions by combining a spatial equilibrium model with a detailed model of transfer programs in the United States. The current system leads to locational inefficiency of 4.88% of total transfer spending. A reform that both harmonizes transfer policies across states and indexes household income to local average earnings reduces this inefficiency by more than 60% while preserving the programs’ means-tested nature.