Template-type: ReDif-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fleurbaey, M. Author-Name: Valletta, G. Author-workplace-name: Microeconomics & Public Economics Title: Fair optimal tax with endogenous productivities Abstract: What is a good incentive-compatible policy when one wants to respect individual choices of labor and human capital but eliminate inequalities due to unequal access to human capital and different returns to human capital, and when earnings and human capital expenditures are the only verifiable variables? We propose a social ordering that incorporates this goal and we analyze the evaluation of tax reforms and the properties of optimal linear and non-linear taxes. For reform evaluation and for optimal non-linear taxation, the focus is on the situation of individuals with the most disadvantaged characteristics who work full time and spend a certain (high) amount in human capital. Series: GSBE Research Memoranda Creation-Date: 20130101 Number: 024 File-URL: https://cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl/ws/files/1422509/guid-b0e671df-3a77-403d-a136-5ea8796cdce2-ASSET1.0.pdf File-Format: application/pdf File-Size: 634464 Handle: Repec:unm:umagsb:2013024 DOI: 10.26481/umagsb.2013024