CLASS ALTRUISM AND REDISTRIBUTION

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Ghiglino, Christian; Juarez-Luna, David; Muller, Andreas
• 署名单位: University of Essex; Centre for Economic Policy Research - UK
• 刊物名称: ECONOMIC JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0013-0133
• DOI: 10.1093/ej/ueab022
• 发表日期: 2021
• 页码: 3274-3295
• 关键词: Social identity; ECONOMICS; institutions; ELITES; POWER

摘要

Why do tax rates vary so much across countries? We study the role of other-regarding preferences and ethnic fragmentation in redistribution. A government is elected by altruistic voters and chooses a redistributive income tax. Altruism is directed towards social identity groups. Three main factors yield low levels of redistribution: (i) strong in-group altruism among rich voters-referred to as class altruism; (ii) weak universal altruism-in particular among the rich; and (iii) ethnic fragmentation among poor voters. We document survey evidence that the pattern of altruism in the United States and the European Union is consistent with the observed differences in taxes.