On the Relative Size of Direct and Indirect Taxation

Soldatos, Gerasimos T. (2014): On the Relative Size of Direct and Indirect Taxation. Published in: International Economic Letters , Vol. 3, No. 2 (2014): pp. 45-48.

Abstract

Modifying the standard analytical apparatuses for direct and indirect tax evasion to incorporate forward indirect tax shift in a monopolistically competitive environment, this paper maintains that indirect tax evasion would exceed for sure direct tax evasion only under consumer risk neutrality and a tax policy zeroing the tax shift. Also, in the presence of tax evasion, there cannot be optimal direct-indirect tax mix, because tax evasion is accompanied by uncertainty and hence, nonlinearities in the tax schedules that cannot be dealt with at least practically.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Direct and indirect tax evasion, Forward indirect tax shift, Consumer risk neutrality
• Subjects: H - Public Economics > H2 - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue > H22 - Incidence; H - Public Economics > H2 - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue > H24 - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies; H - Public Economics > H2 - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue > H25 - Business Taxes and Subsidies; H - Public Economics > H2 - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue > H26 - Tax Evasion and Avoidance

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