The Optimal Taxation of Couples*

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Golosov, Mikhail; Krasikov, Ilia
• 署名单位: University of Chicago; Arizona State University; Arizona State University-Tempe
• 刊物名称: QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0033-5533
• DOI: 10.1093/qje/qjaf021
• 发表日期: 2025
• 页码: 2163-2211
• 关键词: Optimal income taxation

摘要

We study optimal nonlinear taxation of single and married households. Taxes on couples depend on the earnings of both spouses and are an example of multidimensional tax schedules. We develop novel analytical techniques to study properties of such taxes. We show that the optimal marginal taxes for married individuals are generally lower than for single individuals because resource sharing in couples provides socially valuable redistribution. Under realistic assumptions, the optimal tax rates for married individuals increase with the correlation of spousal earnings, the marginal tax rates for one spouse increase (decrease) in the earnings of the other if both spouses have low (high) earnings, and the primary earner faces lower marginal taxes than the secondary earner.