In: Economics
If firms’ average on-cost tax rate is 15%, the average indirect rate is 12%, the effective inflation tax is 3%, and the average direct tax rate is 20%, then the tax wedge equals:
A tax wedge is a difference between the Before-tax wedge and the After-tax wedge,
so, Tax wedge = ( Before-tax wedge - After-tax wedge)
= (average on-cost tax rate + average indirect rate) - ( effective inflation tax + average direct tax rate)
= (15% + 12%) - (3% + 20%)
= 27% - 23%
= 4%
The tax wedge equals to 4%.