How sensitive is Irish income tax revenue to
underlying economic activity?
Deli, Yota, Lambert, Derek, Lawless, MartinaORCID: 0000-0002-3484-8670, McQuinn, KieranORCID: 0000-0003-0246-8179 and Morgenroth, Edgar L.W.ORCID: 0000-0002-9442-0561
(2017)
How sensitive is Irish income tax revenue to
underlying economic activity?
The Economic and Social Review, 48
(3).
pp. 317-336.
ISSN 0012-9984
: In this paper we examine the elasticity of Irish personal income taxation revenue with respect
to aggregate national output – both GDP and GNP. This enables us to estimate the sensitivity of this key
taxation aggregate with respect to changes in economic activity. Understanding the elasticity of the
different taxation components vis-à-vis their underlying economic activity should enable policymakers
to place the public finances on a more sustainable footing and hence avoid the sharp booms and busts
that have characterised Irish taxation receipts over the past 20 years.