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Public Economics Lectures Part 1: Introduction

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Harberger Formula<br />

Without pre-existing tax, obtain “standard” Harberger formula:<br />

EB = − 1 dh 1<br />

2 dτ (∆τ)2<br />

Observe that first-order term vanishes when τ = 0<br />

A new tax has second-order deadweight burden (proportional to ∆τ 2<br />

not ∆τ)<br />

Bottom line: need compensated (substitution) elasticities to compute<br />

EB, not uncompensated elasticities<br />

Empirically, need estimates of income and price elasticities<br />

<strong>Public</strong> <strong>Economics</strong> <strong>Lectures</strong> () <strong>Part</strong> 3: Effi ciency 45 / 105

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