Difficult Topics in Microeconomics: Tax analysis Luis Fernandez And Teresa Fischer
Teaching Objectives of Tax Analysis Application of supply and demand analysis. Refute the “fly-paper theory” of tax incidence. Determine the welfare effects of a well- known type of public policy - taxation. Relate tax incidence to demand and supply elasticities.
Analysis of a $1/unit excise tax
A $1/unit excise tax is enacted
What happens to the demand curve?
Nothing happens to the demand curve!
What happens to the supply curve?
The supply curve shifts up by $1/unit!
Result: price paid by buyers goes up and quantity sold goes down
Result: price paid by buyers goes up by LESS than the tax!
Welfare Analysis Producer surplus Consumer surplus
Welfare Effect of tax: consumer surplus falls New consumer surplus Old consumer surplus
Welfare Effect of tax: producer surplus falls New producer surplus Old producer surplus
Welfare effect of tax: tax revenue goes up Tax revenue
Welfare effect of tax: fall in surplus is greater than tax revenue Tax revenue Consumer Surplus Producer Surplus
Welfare effect of tax: total welfare goes down “Dead-weight” loss of tax Consumer and Producer Surplus and Tax Revenue