Labour supply modelling in Italy when Minimum Income Scheme is an option

Authors

Publication Date

Jul 2008

Abstract

In this paper we analyze the effects of Minimum Guaranteed Income (MGI) schemes on labour supply of Italian married couples by applying a behavioural micro-simulation tax-benefit model. The Tax-Benefit Model applied is the static micro-simulation model of EUROMOD. A household labour supply model is simulated with different tax rules where MGI is an option. The simulated tax regimes are Negative Income Tax (NIT), Workfare Tax (WF) and Universal Basic Income (UBI). These exercises of behavioural micro-simulation tax-benefit are performed at national and regional level. Our main finding is that changes in labour supply due to these tax-transfer rules are small and this is in favour of such income support policies. Concerning tax-transfer rules without hour’s constraint, such as UBI and NIT, they imply labour disincentives more in the South than in the North of the country, and the effect is amplified with the increase of generosity level. Considering the welfare effects of these tax-transfer rules, we find that there are more “winners” than “losers” in the south than in the north as there are more households participating in these MGI schemes due to their low income status.

Publication type

EUROMOD Working Paper Series

Series Number

EM6/08

Research areas

Population changes and labour market dynamics, Tax and benefit systems

Notes

working paper

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