Question

Calculate the average and marginal tax rates in the following table. (Hint: Enter your answers as decimals and do not round when computing tax rates. For example, 8.25% should be entered as "8.25" and not "0.825")

Total Taxable Income Total Tax Due Average Tax Rate Marginal Tax Rate
(Dollars) (Dollars) (Percentage) (Percentage)
0 0 0 0
2,000 130
10,000 650
20,000 1,300
100,000 6,500
The tax rates shown in this table are:________.
True or False: If the marginal tax rate is equal to the average tax rate, then the average tax rate must remain the same.
A. True
B. False
Sean, Yvette, and Bob are the only voters in a small society and are considering whether to publicly finance a project.
Indicate in the following table what each individuals vote would be and whether the public project will be funded
Name Marginal Cost Marginal Benefit Vote
Sean $100 $108
Yvette $100 $12
Bob $100 $125
Total $300 $245
If this same project were taking place in the private sector, a firm ________ fund the project.
In private markets, decisions to provide goods or services to the market are generally made if marginal benefits ________ marginal costs. in comparison, the decisions to provide goods and services by governments are made through _______. as a result, governments may approve projects whose costs _________ their benefits.

Answer 1

1. a. Average Tax rate = 130/2,000 = 6.5%

Marginal Tax Rate = (130 - 0)/ (2,000 - 0) = 6.5%

b. Average Tax rate = 650/10,000 = 6.5%

Marginal Tax Rate =
`(650-130)/(10,000-2,000)` = 6.5%

c. Average Tax rate = 1,300/20,000 = 6.5%

Marginal Tax Rate =
`(1,300-650)/(20,000-10,000)` = 6.5%

d. Average Tax rate = 6,500/100,000 = 6.5%

Marginal Tax Rate =
`(6,500-1,300)/(100,000-20,000)` = 6.5%

2. The tax rates shown in this table are: Proportional

Proportional Taxes take the same percentage of income across all income groups.

3. A. True

4. Sean and Bob would both vote yes as the Marginal Benefit of the project exceeds their marginal cost but project will not be funded in the end as the Total Marginal Cost exceeds Total Marginal benefit. Sean and Bob may want to pay but Yvette will not.

5. If this same project were taking place in the private sector, a firm would not fund the project.

6. In private markets, decisions to provide goods or services to the market are generally made if marginal benefits exceed marginal costs

7. As a result, governments may approve projects whose costs exceed their benefits.