Why do macro wage elasticities diverge?

This study analyses macro wage elasticities on labour productivity, payroll taxes, average and marginal income tax, consumer and producer prices, the replacement ratio and the unemployment rate. The data have been analyzed in a meta analysis that relates differences in each elasticity of pay to variations in study characteristics, economic or institutional variables and the econometric specification of underlying wage equations. The results indicate that notably the econometric specification of the reported wage equation matters. The dynamic specification, the choice of explanatory variables and restrictions on estimated coefficients all have their impact on estimated elasticities. The reported value of the output price elasticity of pay is sensitive to restrictions on the consumer price and vice versa. In case of tax elasticities the dynamic specification matters, and the value of the replacement ratio elasticity of pay based on sectoral data is higher than the one obtained from macro data. The results for the unemployment elasticity of pay are close to those found in the wage curve literature. Finally, we generate benchmark values for each type of elasticity.

Why do macro wage elasticities diverge? A meta analysis

This study analyses macro elasticities of the gross yearly wage per employee. From some 90 books, articles and working papers, more than 1000 elasticities have been extracted. The results indicate that the dynamic specification of the wage equation, the choice of explanatory variables and restrictions on estimated coefficients all have their impact on estimated elasticities. From the results, we generate benchmark values for each type of elasticity that may be useful to calibrate policy simulation models.

Immigration policy and welfare state design; a qualitative approach to explore the interaction

For the design of an immigration policy, in terms of the number and skills of the entrants and their effect on the host country, it is important to realize that the kind of welfare state matters. This study confronts three possible labour migration regimes - a temporary, an open and a selective regime - with two possible welfare state settings - a highly redistributive and a hardly redistributive welfare state. By comparing the likely outcomes between the different regimes, and by taking possible effects on the self-selection of immigrants into account, the study draws the following conclusions. First, both labour migration policy and the welfare state matter for the skill composition of labour migrants. Second, to be attractive for high-skilled labour migrants a highly distributive welfare state needs to undo its discouraging effect on these migrants. Third, a highly redistributive welfare state is attractive for low-skilled labour migrants. Because these migrants may become costly for such a welfare state once they manage to stay permanently, one should be careful with the introduction of temporary migration policies for the low-skilled.

The Effects of Capping Co-Insurance Payments

It is common to limit the cost sharing in health insurance schemes by a cap on co-insurance payments. This paper derives the economic and welfare effects of such a cap, adopting a model of which two features are crucial. First, health care demand is price-elastic. Second, demand is less elastic the worser the consumer’s health status. The paper derives that a cap induces optimizing health insurers to raise the co-insurance rate. This raises welfare in the aggregate, but part of the consumers do not share in this welfare gain. In particular, those with health spending close to the level at which co-insurance payments reach their maximum level suffer large welfare losses. We adopt a 3- state model to derive our results and a continuous-state model for a numerical illustration

Analyzing a Flat Income Tax in the Netherlands

A flat tax rate on income has gained popularity in European countries. This paper assesses the attractiveness of such a flat tax in achieving redistributive objectives with the least cost to labour market performance. We do so by using a detailed applied general equilibrium model for the Netherlands. The model is empirically grounded in the data and encompasses decisions on hours worked, labour force participation, skill formation, wage bargaining between unions and firms, matching frictions, and a wide variety of institutional details. The simulations suggest that the replacement of the current tax system in the Netherlands by a flat rate will harm labour market performance if aggregate income inequality is contained. This finding bolsters the notion that a linear tax is less efficient than a non-linear tax to obtain redistributive goals.flat tax, labour market, general equilibrium, equity, optimal taxation

Analyzing a flat income tax in the Netherlands

A flat tax rate on income has gained popularity in European countries. This paper assesses the attractiveness of such a flat tax in achieving redistributive objectives with the least cost to labour market performance. We do so by using a detailed applied general equilibrium model for the Netherlands. The model is empirically grounded in the data and encompasses decisions on hours worked, labour force participation, skill formation, wage bargaining between unions and firms, matching frictions, and a wide variety of institutional details. The simulations suggest that the replacement of the current tax system in the Netherlands by a flat rate will harm labour market performance if aggregate income inequality is contained. This finding bolsters the notion that a linear tax is less efficient than a non-linear tax to obtain redistributive goals

Analyzing a Flat Income Tax in the Netherlands

A flat tax rate on income has gained popularity in European countries. This paper assesses the attractiveness of such a flat tax in achieving redistributive objectives with the least cost to labour market performance. We do so by using a detailed applied general equilibrium model for the Netherlands. The model is empirically grounded in the data and encompasses decisions on hours worked, labour force participation, skill formation, wage bargaining between unions and firms, matching frictions, and a wide variety of institutional details. The simulations suggest that the replacement of the current tax system in the Netherlands by a flat rate will harm labour market performance if aggregate income inequality is contained. This finding bolsters the notion that a linear tax is less efficient than a non-linear tax to obtain redistributive goals

Analyzing a Flat Income Tax in the Netherlands

A flat tax rate on income has gained popularity in European countries. This paper assesses the attractiveness of such a flat tax in achieving redistributive objectives with the least cost to labour market performance. We do so by using a detailed applied general equilibrium model for the Netherlands. The model is empirically grounded in the data and encompasses decisions on hours worked, labour force participation, skill formation, wage bargaining between unions and firms, matching frictions, and a wide variety of institutional details. The simulations suggest that the replacement of the current tax system in the Netherlands by a flat rate will harm labour market performance if aggregate income inequality is contained. This finding bolsters the notion that a linear tax is less efficient than a non-linear tax to obtain redistributive goals.Flat tax; Labour market; General equilibrium; Equity; Optimal taxation