American Economic Journal: Applied Economics · 2022 · Thomas Blanchet、Lucas Chancel、Amory Gethin
中文摘要
本文综合所有可用数据，编制了1980年至2017年间26个欧洲国家的税前和税后收入不平等序列。我们的估计结果与宏观经济增长相一致，且与美国的分配国民账户具有可比性。几乎所有欧洲国家的不平等程度都有所上升，但增幅远低于美国。与一种普遍看法相反，我们证明，欧洲较低的不平等水平不能用更能缩小收入差距的税收和转移支付体系来解释。在计入间接税和实物转移支付后，美国通过再分配给予低收入群体的收入占国民收入的份额高于任何欧洲国家。解释欧洲为何比美国不平等程度更低的，是“预分配”，而非“再分配”。（JEL D31, E01, H23, H24, H50, I38）
Abstract
This article combines all available data to produce pretax and post-tax income inequality series in 26 European countries from 1980 to 2017. Our estimates are consistent with macroeconomic growth and comparable with US distributional national accounts. Inequality grew in nearly all European countries, but much less than in the US. Contrary to a widespread view, we demonstrate that Europe’s lower inequality levels cannot be explained by more equalizing tax and transfer systems. After accounting for indirect taxes and in-kind transfers, the US redistributes a greater share of national income to low-income groups than any European country. “Predistribution,” not “redistribution,” explains why Europe is less unequal than the United States. (JEL D31, E01, H23, H24, H50, I38)