Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/161913 
Year of Publication: 
2017
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 6474
Publisher: 
Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich
Abstract: 
Theoretical discussion on compensating mechanisms involving the Pareto criterion that address inequality rather than absolute welfare is non-existent in trade literature. In a simple HOS model we consider tax-transfer policies that keep the pre-trade degree of inequality unchanged between skilled and unskilled workers rather than the absolute income of the losing group. We discuss the problem of existence of such an inequality-neutral tax rate which generates a positive increment in the after tax skilled wage and unskilled wage. Such a mechanism exists and is independent of whether the tax is progressive or proportional. Thus the compensating mechanism that is available in this standard model is stronger than the conventional Pareto criterion.
Subjects: 
trade model
wage inequality
compensation mechanism
tax policy
JEL: 
F11
J31
D63
H20
H23
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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