The distributional impact of income tax in Canada and China: 1997‐2005
Journal of Chinese Economic and Foreign Trade Studies
ISSN: 1754-4408
Article publication date: 22 June 2010
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the distributional impact of personal income tax in Canada and China over the most recent decade.
Design/methodology/approach
The Urban Household Survey in China and the Canadian Socio‐Economic Information Management System data are employed.
Findings
It was found that, in both Canada and China, the personal income taxes are progressive, that is, tax payments and average tax rates are increasing in the income share of high‐income taxpayers.
Research limitations/implications
This paper does not explore the connection between tax progressivity differences and social, political, and cultural differences in the two countries.
Practical implications
This paper is of interest to policy makers, economists, and academics, who seek to design an income tax system which can mitigate income inequity efficiently. Given that income taxes have changed in China in recent years, future studies should be conducted to compare the distributional impacts of the new tax system against those of the old tax system.
Originality/value
This is the first study of distributional impact of income tax in China. This is also the first study to compare tax distribution between China and a developed country.
Keywords
Citation
Lin, H. and Zeng, T. (2010), "The distributional impact of income tax in Canada and China: 1997‐2005", Journal of Chinese Economic and Foreign Trade Studies, Vol. 3 No. 2, pp. 132-145. https://doi.org/10.1108/17544401011052276
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited