Facts and figures about UK taxes, benefits and public spending.
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Analysing government fiscal forecasts and tax and spending.
Analysis of the fiscal choices an independent Scotland would face.
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Reforming the tax system for the 21st century.
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Type: Journal Articles Authors: Peter Haan and Michal Myck ISSN: Print: 0143-5671 Online: 1475-5890
Published in: Fiscal Studies, Vol. 28, No. 1, March 2007
Volume, issue, pages: Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 43-72
JEL classification: C25, C52, H31, J22
Estimates of the labour supply effects of recent UK reforms in the area of direct taxes and benefits show that policy can have significant influence on the level of employment. We confirm this in a simulation of an in-work support system introduced into the German tax and benefit system. Our simulation results suggest that introducing in-work tax credits in Germany would increase the employment of single individuals by over 105,000 but would result in a reduction of labour supply among individuals living in couples by about 70,000, among both women and men. The result found for men is especially important as it is markedly different from all results for the UK, where the net response among men has always been found to be positive. Our estimation results call for a high degree of caution as far as 'importing' UK-style tax credits to Germany is concerned. In-work support based on family income would reinforce the existing work disincentives for secondary earners, reducing the employment levels of both men and women living in couples. Search |

