Net Marginal Social Security Tax Rates over the Life Cycle.

TAX rates; SOCIAL security taxes; SOCIAL security; WAGE taxation; DISABILITY insurance

This paper estimates net marginal Social Security tax rates, by age, for the cohorts of workers covered by Social Security in 2000, 2010, 2020 and 2030. The paper updates and extends Feldstein and Samwick's (1992) study. In contrast to their study, which found net tax rates much higher for young workers relative to older workers in 1990, this paper finds net tax rates to be relatively uniform across age groups. This paper's inclusion of the Disability Insurance program, the projected decline in future mortality rates, and the continued phase-in of higher retirement ages accounts for our sharply differing conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of National Tax Journal is the property of University of Chicago Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)