Long-Term Changes in Labor Supply and Taxes: Evidence from OECD Countries, 1956-2004

By Lee Ohanian, Andrea Raffo, and Richard Rogerson
December 2006
RWP 06-16
Research Division
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City


Abstract    

We document large differences in trend changes in hours worked across OECD countries over the period 1956-2004. We then assess the extent to which these changes are consistent with the intratemporal first order condition from the neoclassical growth model. We find large and trending deviations from this condition, and that the model can account for virtually none of the changes in hours worked. We then extend the model to incorporate observed changes in taxes. Our findings suggest that taxes can account for much of the variation in hours worked both over time and across countries.

Keywords: Labor supply, wedges, taxes

JEL classification: E60, H20, J22


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