Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/38959 
Year of Publication: 
2010
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 3107
Publisher: 
Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich
Abstract: 
The paper studies the revenue, efficiency, and distributional implications of a simple strategy of offsetting tariff reductions with increases in destination-based consumption taxes so as to leave consumer prices unchanged. We employ a dynamic micro-founded macroeconomic model of a small open developing economy, which features an informal sector that cannot be taxed, a formal agricultural sector, and an import-substitution sector. The reform strategy increases government revenue, imports, exports, and the informal sector. In contrast to Emran and Stiglitz (2005), who ignore the dynamic effects of taxes and tariffs on factor markets, we find an efficiency gain, which is unevenly distributed. Existing generations benefit more than future generations, who - depending on pre-existing tax and tariff rates and the informal sector size - even may become worse off.
Subjects: 
tariff reform
consumption tax reform
informal sector
home production
transitional dynamics
overlapping generations
second-best outcome
JEL: 
E26
F11
F13
H20
H26
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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