101-Chapter 8 (1)
POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS FOR PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS
Edition: Eighth Canadian Edition by Mankiw/Kneebone/McKenzie
Adaptation: Adapted by Marc Prud’Homme, University of Ottawa
Copyright: © 2020 by Nelson Education Ltd.
APPLICATION: THE COSTS OF TAXATION
Chapter: 8
UNDERSTANDING THE COSTS OF TAXATION
To assess how taxes impact economic welfare:
Compare reduced welfare of buyers/sellers to government revenue.
Use tools of consumer and producer surplus for comparison.
THE DEADWEIGHT LOSS OF TAXATION
Effect of Taxation on Demand/Supply:
Tax on buyers = Demand curve shifts downward by tax size.
Tax on sellers = Supply curve shifts upward by tax size.
Outcome of Taxation:
Price paid by buyers increases.
Price received by sellers decreases.
Buyers and sellers share the tax burden.
GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF TAX IMPACT
Figure 8.1: Illustrates effects of a tax on price and quantity.
Price, supply, demand, and quantity changes depicted when tax is applied.
TAXATION IN A MARKET SCENARIO
Diagram Exercise:
Draw supply and demand curves for cookies.
Show impact of government tax on:
Quantity sold
Price paid by buyers
Price received by sellers
Include deadweight loss in diagram.
DETERMINANTS OF DEADWEIGHT LOSS
Factors influencing deadweight loss size:
Price elasticities of supply and demand.
Measures responsiveness of quantity supplied/demanded to price changes.
ELASTICITY AND DEADWEIGHT LOSS
Figures 8.5 (a-d): Illustrate the relationship between elasticity and deadweight loss.
Inelastic Supply = Small deadweight loss.
Elastic Supply = Large deadweight loss.
Inelastic Demand = Small deadweight loss.
Elastic Demand = Large deadweight loss.
QUICK QUIZ ON DEADWEIGHT LOSS
Inquiry: Tax on beer (more elastic) vs. tax on milk (less elastic)—assess which leads to larger deadweight loss.
VARIATION IN DEADWEIGHT LOSS AND TAX REVENUE
Investigates impact of changing tax size on deadweight loss and tax revenue.
GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF TAX REVENUE
Figure 8.6: Shows relationship between deadweight loss and tax revenue across different tax sizes.
IMPACT OF TAX INCREASES
Figure 8.7: Details effects of a tax increase on price and quantity.
Price effects illustrated when tax is raised.
SOCIETAL COST OF TAXES
Total societal cost of tax:
Revenue generated + Deadweight loss.
Marginal Cost of Public Funds (MCPF):
Cost to society for raising additional tax revenue.
Dependent on tax base sensitivity to tax changes.
GOVERNMENT SIZE AND TAXATION COST
Considerations for government size:
Larger deadweight loss leads to increased costs of government programs.
Efficient taxation (small deadweight loss) allows for potentially lower tax burdens.
MARGINAL BENEFIT OF PUBLIC FUNDS
Identifies societal value of increased government expenditure:
Expenditure to continue if Marginal Cost (MCF) = Marginal Benefit (MBF) reaches equilibrium.
GOVERNMENT TAXATION EXAMPLE
Inquiry regarding a potential doubling of gasoline tax:
Discuss uncertainty in revenue increase and deadweight loss implications.
LABOUR TAXES CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
Scenario: Earning $10/hour with varying tax rates (10% - 100%).
Consider decision to quit or continue working at different tax rates.
Exploration of what constitutes the “best” tax rate.
CONCLUSION
End of Presentation.