Eur 3: A Prototype European Tax-Benefit Model

Abstract

A prototype multi-country static microsimulation model has been built to simulate tax and social benefits in a number of European countries, as part of a preparatory study to examine the possibility of building a comprehensive EU wide integrated microsimulation model. The countries considered in the first stage of the project are France, Italy and the United Kingdom. This paper describes what characterises sucn a model compared with existing national models and outlines some of the issues encountered. A number of policy experiments were carried out, including the introduction of national Basic Incomes, a Europe-wide child support reform, and a reduction in social insurance contributions for the low paid. The results shed light on strong cross-national differences in existing fiscal systems and relative income distributions in the three countries.