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Optimal tax theory

Mirrlees, J.A.·1976·Journal of Public Economics

Abstract

Abstract Necessary conditions for optimal taxation are derived (i) when taxes are constrained to be linear, (ii) when the form of taxation is unconstrained, (iii) when some commodities are subject to nonlinear taxation, the remainder to proportional taxation. Among the results obtained are several that help to determine upon which commodities the tax system ought to bear most heavily. In particular, a criterion for the effect of commodity taxes in the presence of an optimal income tax is found. The paper concludes with a general principle of simple form for optimal economic policies of all kinds.

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Metadata

Authors
Mirrlees, J. A.
Venue
Journal of Public Economics
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1976-11
Volume
6
Issue
4
Pages
327-358
ISSN
0047-2727 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1546529988
Cited by
563
References
0
FWCI
23.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Optimal tax theory. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1016/0047-2727(76)90047-5
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Mirrlees, J. A. (1976). Optimal tax theory. Journal of Public Economics. https://doi.org/10.1016/0047-2727(76)90047-5

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