Welfare and Work Incentives A North European Perspective

by Atkinson, A. B.; Mogensen, Gunnar Viby

• ISBN13: 9780198288602
• ISBN10: 0198288603
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1994-02-03
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

The countries of Northern Europe have high taxes and high benefit levels relative to the average of the industrialized world. Differing views on the effects of these welfare benefits, and the taxes that finance them, have defined the current debate on proposed changes to the welfare state. A team of economists, led by A.B. Atkinson, analyze the extent to which these high taxes and high benefits act as a disincentive to work and explore the effects of welfare benefits on the economy. Their comparative study of Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and the United Kingdom provides useful empirical evidence and a thoughtful discussion of different labor market institutions to advance the argument that high taxes and high benefits are, in fact, disincentives to work.

Table of Contents

The Authors
List of Figures
List of Tables
Introduction	p. 1
Work Incentives	p. 20
Taxes and Transfers in Sweden: Incentive Effects on Labour Supply	p. 50
Taxation and Labour-Supply Incentives in the UK	p. 135
Have Social-Security Benefits Seriously Damaged Work Incentives in Britain?	p. 161
Labour Responses to Taxes and Benefits in Germany	p. 192
The Welfare State and Taxation in Denmark	p. 241
Conclusions	p. 289
References	p. 298
Index	p. 317
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