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taxes that are non-distortionary are lump-sum taxes. A head tax (a tax one has to pay regardless of income), and a tax that depends on non-alterable characteristic(age, sex) are both called a lump-sum tax.
A tax is distortionary if there is something an individual or firm can do to lower his tax liability.(for instance, Any tax on commodities is distortionary: an individual can change his tax liability simply by reducing his purchases of the commodity. --Any tax on income is also distortionary: an individual can reduce his tax liability simply by working less or by saving less.)
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