This presentation is part of: D12-1 (2142) Consumer Economics

Reducing the Excess Burden of Subsidizing the Stork

Volker Meier, Dr., Ifo Institute for Economic Research, Poschingerstr. 5, Munich, D-81679, Germany and Matthias Wrede, Dr., Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, University of Marburg, Am Plan 2, Marburg, D-35032, Germany.

Analyzing a homogenous household setting with endogenous fertility and endogenous labor supply, we demonstrate that moving from joint taxation to individual taxation and adapting child benefits so as to keep fertility constant entails a Pareto improvement. The change is associated with an increase in labor supply and consumption and a reduction of the marginal income tax, while the child benefit may move in either direction. Similarly, a move from joint taxation to some scheme of family tax splitting increases labor supply and welfare.