MACMILLAN Simple Models of Income Redistribution

The rising role of intra- and intergenerational transfers (e.g. basic income, child benefit and public pensions) characterises modern economies, yet most models depicting these transfers are too sophisticated for a wider but mathematically trained audience. This book presents simple models to fill the gap. The author considers a benevolent government maximizing social welfare by anticipating citizens’ shortsighted reaction to the transfer rules. The resulting income redistribution is analyzed for low tax morale, strong labor disutility and heterogeneous life expectancy. Key issues that the book addresses include the socially optimal pension contribution rate, retirement age, and redistribution programs. The author concludes by removing some strong restrictions and introducing median voter, incomplete information and dynamic complications. The book will be of value for graduate students and researchers interested in public economics, especially in public and private pensions. Review “The target readership is students and researchers interested in redistribution and transfers. … the emphasis is on economic intuition and on understanding the logic of transfer systems. This feature makes the book an especially useful companion resource for the intermediate and advanced undergraduate or Master's level study of labour economics. At a doctorate or post-doctorate level the book provides a helpful background reading on construction of simple baseline models.” (Nigar Hashimzade, Mathematical Reviews, August, 2020) From the Back Cover The rising role of intra- and intergenerational transfers (e.g. basic income, child benefit and public pensions) characterises modern economies, yet most models depicting these transfers are too sophisticated for a wider but mathematically trained audience. This book presents simple models to fill the gap. The author considers a benevolent government maximizing social welfare by anticipating citizens’ shortsighted reaction to the transfer rules. The resulting income redistribution is analyzed for low tax morale, strong labor disutility and heterogeneous life expectancy. Key issues that the book addresses include the socially optimal pension contribution rate, retirement age, and redistribution programs. The author concludes by removing some strong restrictions and introducing median voter, incomplete information and dynamic complications. The book will be of value for graduate students and researchers interested in public economics, especially in public and private pensions. About the Author Andras Simonovits is Professor Emeritus at the Institute of Economics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences. During his career he has taught at various universities including Boston University, University of Illinois, Tilburg University and Louvain-la-Neuve. In 2007, he received the Officer Cross of the Republic of Hungary. His research interests include Priority Queuing, Linear Models, Decentralized Control, Macromodels of the Socialist Economies, Overlapping Generations, and Pension Systems. Recently his main research interest is Modelling Pension Systems, especially designing good pension rules for flexible retirement. In addition to publishing several dozen papers and book chapters, he has published three books previously with Palgrave Macmillan.