Redistribution and education subsidies are Siamese twins

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Bovenberg, AL; Jacobs, B
• 署名单位: Tilburg University; University of Amsterdam
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2004.12.004
• 发表日期: 2005
• 页码: 2005-2035
• 关键词: Human capital; education subsidies; progressive taxation; redistribution

摘要

We develop models of optimal linear and non-linear income taxation with endogenous human capital formation to explore optimal education subsidies. Optimal subsidies on education ensure efficiency in human capital accumulation and thus play an important role in alleviating the tax distortions on learning induced by redistributive policies. If the government cannot verify all investments in human capital, education policy offsets some but not all tax-induced distortions on learning. Non-pecuniary educational costs (benefits) may increase (decrease) subsidies on education, especially if they are complementary to work effort. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.