Dynamic Tax Externalities and the U.S. Fiscal Transformation

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  • Martin Gonzalez-Eiras
  • Dirk Niepelt
We propose a theory of tax centralization in politico-economic equilibrium. Taxation has dynamic general equilibrium implications which are internalized at the federal, but not at the regional level. The political support for taxation therefore differs across levels of government. Complementarities on the spending side decouple the equilibrium composition of spending and taxation and create a role for inter governmental grants. The model provides an explanation for the centralization of revenue, introduction of grants, and expansion of federal income taxation in the U.S. around the time of the New Deal. Quantitatively, it accounts for approximately 30% of the federal revenue share's doubling in the 1930s, and for the long-term increase in federal grants.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Monetary Economics
Volume114
Pages (from-to)144-158
Number of pages15
ISSN0304-3932
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2020

ID: 236222525