For a wide class of infinitely lived agent models, Chamley has shown that the optimal capital income tax rate is zero in the long run. Lucas has argued that for the U.S. economy, there is a significant welfare gain from switching to this policy. This paper shows that for the Bewley class of models with incomplete insurance markets and borrowing constraints, the optimal tax rate on capital income is positive, even in the long run. Therefore, cutting the capital income tax to zero may well lead to welfare losses.

For a wide class of infinitely lived agent models, Chamley has shown that the optimal capital income tax rate is zero in the long run. Lucas has argued that for the U.S. economy, there is a significant welfare gain from switching to this policy. This paper shows that for the Bewley class of models with incomplete insurance markets and borrowing constraints, the optimal tax rate on capital income is positive, even in the long run. Therefore, cutting the capital income tax to zero may well lead to welfare losses.

The efficient redistribution hypothesis says that no available government policies are Pareto superior to observed government policies. Efficient redistribution from government policy is a central tenet of much recent theoretical and applied political economy literature. In this paper, limitations of previous attempts to test the efficient redistribution hypothesis are discussed, and an alternative test of the efficient redistribution hypothesis that uses vector optimization theory and bootstrap methodology is presented.

Abstract. This study distinguishes between incremental and relative information content. Incremental comparisons ask whether one accounting measure provides information content beyond that provided by another, and apply when one measure is viewed as given and an assessment is desired regarding the incremental contribution of another (e.g., a supplemental disclosure). Relative comparisons ask which measure has greater information content, and apply when making mutually exclusive choices among alternatives, or when rankings by information content are desired (e.g., when comparing alternative disclosures). Questions of both incremental and relative information content arise frequently in accounting. However, few previous studies have examined questions of relative information content. Possible explanations include unfamiliarity with the relative versus incremental distinction, and the additional statistical complexity involved in testing for relative information content. First, we examine analytically the relation between incremental and relative information content, demonstrating that they address different research questions and require different tests for statistical significance. Second, we identify accounting research contexts in which questions of relative and incremental information content arise. Third, we propose a new regression‐based test for relative information content. This test applies to both returns and valuation studies, generalizes to any number of predictor variables, and can be used in conjunction with White's (1980) adjustment for heteroskedasticity. Fourth, we illustrate tests for relative and incremental information content in a familiar research setting that compares the information contents of net income, cash flows, and net sales in 40 industries. Résumé. Les auteurs établissent la distinction entre le contenu marginal et relatif en information. Les comparaisons du contenu marginal visent à déterminer si une mesure comptable livre un contenu en information supérieur à celui d'une autre, et elles s'appliquent dans les cas où une mesure est considérée comme étant donnée et où l'on souhaite évaluer la contribution marginale d'une autre mesure (par exemple, la présentation de renseignements complémentaires). Les comparaisons du contenu relatif visent à déterminer quelle mesure livre un contenu en information supérieur , et elles s'appliquent dans les cas où les choix entre différentes possibilités sont mutuellement exclusifs ou lorsqu'il s'agit d'établir des classifications selon le contenu en information (par exemple, dans la comparaison de différentes possibilités en ce qui a trait à la présentation d'information). La question du contenu marginal aussi bien que du contenu relatif en information se pose fréquemment en comptabilité. Dans les études réalisées jusqu'à maintenant, l'on s'est peu intéressé aux questions touchant le contenu relatif en information. Cette lacune pourrait s'expliquer, entre autres, par le caractère inusité de la distinction entre contenu relatif et contenu marginal en information et par la complexité statistique accrue que supposent des tests portant sur le contenu relatif en information. Selon un schéma analytique, les auteurs examinent en premier lieu la relation entre le contenu marginal et le contenu relatif en information, en démontrant que les mesures correspondantes se rapportent à des questions de recherche différentes et qu'elles exigent des tests de signification statistique différents. Ils déterminent en deuxième lieu quels sont les contextes de recherche comptable dans lesquels se posent les questions pertinentes au contenu relatif et marginal en information. Ils proposent, en troisième lieu, un test inédit fondé sur la régression et s'appliquant au contenu relatif en information. Ce test convient à la fois aux études de rendement et aux études d'évaluation, peut être généralisé à n'importe quel nombre de variables prédictives et peut être utilisé en association avec l'ajustement de White (1980) relatif à l'hétéroscédasticité. Ils illustrent, en quatrième lieu, l'application de tests du contenu relatif et marginal en information dans un contexte de recherche familier où le contenu informationnel du bénéfice net, des flux de trésorerie et du chiffre d'affaires net est comparé dans 40 entreprises.

Abstract Analyzes a system of negotiated transfer pricing in which divisions can agree on a simple fixed-price contract and renegotiate this contract on arrival of better information. Provision of effective protection for their specific investments.

[In our model of negotiated transfer pricing, divisional managers can make specific investments that enhance the value of intrafirm trade. However, these investments are irreversible and must be made before divisional managers have enough information to determine the desired intrafirm transfer. We find that a system of negotiated transfer pricing will lead to efficient outcomes provided the divisions can sign fixed-price contracts prior to making their investment decisions. While these contracts are likely to be renegotiated after the relevant information becomes known, they nonetheless provide the divisions with effective protection for their specific investments.]

The equity premium puzzle refers to the empirical fact that stocks have outperformed bonds over the last century by a surprisingly large margin. We offer a new explanation based on two behavioral concepts. First, investors are assumed to be “loss averse,” meaning that they are distinctly more sensitive to losses than to gains. Second, even long-term investors are assumed to evaluate their portfolios frequently. We dub this combination “myopic loss aversion.” Using simulations, we find that the size of the equity premium is consistent with the previously estimated parameters of prospect theory if investors evaluate their portfolios annually.

Mean and variance measures of health information about cholesterol and saturated fat are included in a demand system for fats and oils. A Bayesian model of health risk belief and consumer awareness surveys are the basis for computing these measures. The empirical demand model shows that health information has resulted in significant increases in consumption for corn, cottonseed, and soybean oils and decreased consumption for butter and lard. The predicted demand effects based on the Bayesian information model are more reasonable than predictions from using either a time trend or a simple cumulative cholesterol information index. Copyright 1995 by MIT Press.