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GROWTH EFFECTS OF CONSUMPTION AND LABOR-INCOME TAXATION IN AN OVERLAPPING-GENERATIONS LIFE-CYCLE MODEL

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 October 2010

Ben J. Heijdra
Affiliation:
University of Groningen, IHS-Vienna, Netspar and CESifo
Jochen O. Mierau*
Affiliation:
University of Groningen and Netspar
*
Address correspondence to: Jochen O. Mierau, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 800, 9700 AV Groningen, The Netherlands; e-mail: j.o.mierau@rug.nl.

Abstract

We study labor-income and consumption taxation in an overlapping-generations model featuring endogenous growth due to interfirm investment externalities. Consumption, saving, and labor supply display life-cycle features because mortality and labor productivity are age-dependent and because annuity markets may be imperfect. The government's method of revenue recycling critically affects the growth consequences of taxation. Purely consumptive government spending has a negative impact on growth. Redistribution of tax revenue from dissavers to savers may lead to an increase in growth due to beneficial intergenerational transfer effects.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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