American Economic Journal:
Economic Policy
ISSN 1945-7731 (Print) | ISSN 1945-774X (Online)
Optimal Taxation and Social Insurance with Endogenous Private Insurance
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
(pp. 85–114)
Abstract
We characterize welfare gains from government intervention when the private sector provides partial insurance. We analyze models in which adverse selection, pre-existing information, or imperfect optimization create a role for government intervention. We derive formulas that map existing empirical estimates into quantitative predictions for optimal policy. When private insurance generates moral hazard, standard formulas for optimal government insurance must be modified to account for fiscal externalities. In contrast, standard formulas are unaffected by "informal" private insurance that does not generate moral hazard. Applications to health and unemployment show that formal private market insurance can significantly reduce optimal government benefit rates. (JEL D82, G22, H21, H23, J65)Citation
Chetty, Raj, and Emmanuel Saez. 2010. "Optimal Taxation and Social Insurance with Endogenous Private Insurance." American Economic Journal: Economic Policy 2 (2): 85–114. DOI: 10.1257/pol.2.2.85Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D82 Asymmetric and Private Information
- G22 Insurance; Insurance Companies
- H21 Taxation and Subsidies: Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
- H23 Taxation and Subsidies: Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
- J65 Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings