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Taxation and Internal Migration: Evidence from the Swiss Census Using Community-Level Variation in Income Tax Rates

Author

Listed:
  • Liebig, Thomas

    (OECD)

  • Puhani, Patrick A.

    (Leibniz University of Hannover)

  • Sousa-Poza, Alfonso

    (University of Hohenheim)

Abstract
We investigate the relationship between income tax rate variation and internal migration for the unique case of Switzerland, whose system of determining tax rates primarily at the community level results in enough variation to permit analysis of their influence on migration. Specifically, using Swiss census data, we analyze migratory responses to tax rate variations for various groups defined by age, education, and nationality/residence permit. The results suggest that young Swiss college graduates are most sensitive to tax rate differences, but the estimated effects are not large enough to offset the revenue-increasing effect of a rise in tax rate. The migratory responses of foreigners and other age-education groups are even smaller, and reverse causation seems negligible.

Suggested Citation

  • Liebig, Thomas & Puhani, Patrick A. & Sousa-Poza, Alfonso, 2006. "Taxation and Internal Migration: Evidence from the Swiss Census Using Community-Level Variation in Income Tax Rates," IZA Discussion Papers 2374, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp2374
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Switzerland; mobility; taxation; immigration; residence permit; visa status; foreigners;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • H73 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Interjurisdictional Differentials and Their Effects

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